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Japanese report says cruise missile will be displayed

The Hsiung Feng IIE, a surface-to-surface cruise missile developed by the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology, will be displayed for the first time on Double Ten National Day, a Japanese newspaper quoted Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) as saying.

The Sankei Shimbun said Wang revealed the news to its reporters on Monday.

Wang doubles as the convener of the National Day celebration organizing committee.

The report marked the first time that a government official has confirmed a long-standing rumor that the development of the Hsiung Feng IIE is complete.

The Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister paper) reported in late July that the missile was tested on July 25 at the Jiupeng testing range in Pingtung County. A test on Feb. 2 was confirmed by the defense ministry, which did not give any further details.

With a reported maximum range of 1,000km and the ability to carry a 360kg warhead, the Hsiung Feng IIE is capable of reaching targets in China as distant as Shanghai.

Wang declined to comment on the Sankei Shimbun report, saying he didn't know which weapons would be on display.

"There will be a 30-minute weapons display during the National Day celebrations, so many kinds of weapons will be on display," Wang said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense's budget request for next year, submitted to the legislature yesterday, provides clues that the ministry plans to acquire Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missiles.

This conjecture is based on an increase in expenditure by the ministry's Missile Command.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office warned Taiwan last month that the nation is playing a dangerous game by producing missiles.
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