China could soon test a new anti-satellite weapon that could pose a threat to Taiwan’s defense capabilities, a US media report said.
According to US intelligence sources, the Dong Ning-2 anti-satellite missile — potentially able to destroy satellites in high-Earth or geosynchronous orbit — will be ready for testing next month.
If it proves successful, the missile could knock out the US satellites that would provide early warning of an attack on Taiwan and other satellites used to conduct defense operations.
The Washington Free Beacon, a politically conservative Web site, reported on Tuesday that tests were being delayed “to avoid upsetting” US President Barack Obama’s re-election bid.
“China’s delay in conducting the test until after the Nov. 6 election is a sign Beijing wants to help Obama’s re-election campaign — it means they’d rather have him re-elected,” a US official familiar with the intelligence reports was quoted as saying.
Intelligence and military sources reached by the Taipei Times on Tuesday refused to confirm or deny the reported anti-satellite development.
“The missile is described by intelligence agencies as a high-earth orbit interceptor designed to destroy satellites by ramming them at high speeds,” the report said.
China has been building an anti-satellite capability for more than 10 years, but testing a high-earth orbit anti-satellite missile would represent a “major advance.”
Military communication and navigation satellites fly at high-earth orbits of 19,300km to 35,410km from Earth.
It is not known how the test will be conducted.
“Defense officials have said that with as few as 24 anti-satellite missiles, China could severely weaken US military operations by disrupting global communications and military logistics as well as by limiting celestial navigation systems used by high-technology weapons,” the report said.
A Department of State-Pentagon report to Congress earlier this year said that Chinese anti-satellite weapons had “significant implications” for anti-access and area-denial efforts against the US in Taiwan Strait contingencies.
It said the weapons were being developed to force the US military out of Asian waters and make it more difficult for US forces to get into the region to defend Taiwan.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION: The UK would continue to reinforce ties with Taiwan ‘in a wide range of areas’ as a part of a ‘strong unofficial relationship,’ a paper said The UK plans to conduct more freedom of navigation operations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs David Lammy told the British House of Commons on Tuesday. British Member of Parliament Desmond Swayne said that the Royal Navy’s HMS Spey had passed through the Taiwan Strait “in pursuit of vital international freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.” Swayne asked Lammy whether he agreed that it was “proper and lawful” to do so, and if the UK would continue to carry out similar operations. Lammy replied “yes” to both questions. The
‘OF COURSE A COUNTRY’: The president outlined that Taiwan has all the necessary features of a nation, including citizens, land, government and sovereignty President William Lai (賴清德) discussed the meaning of “nation” during a speech in New Taipei City last night, emphasizing that Taiwan is a country as he condemned China’s misinterpretation of UN Resolution 2758. The speech was the first in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. It is the responsibility of Taiwanese citizens to stand united to defend their national sovereignty, democracy, liberty, way of life and the future of the next generation, Lai said. This is the most important legacy the people of this era could pass on to future generations, he said. Lai went on to discuss
AMENDMENT: Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of high-temperature days, affecting economic productivity and public health, experts said The Central Weather Administration (CWA) is considering amending the Meteorological Act (氣象法) to classify “high temperatures” as “hazardous weather,” providing a legal basis for work or school closures due to extreme heat. CWA Administrator Lu Kuo-chen (呂國臣) yesterday said the agency plans to submit the proposed amendments to the Executive Yuan for review in the fourth quarter this year. The CWA has been monitoring high-temperature trends for an extended period, and the agency contributes scientific data to the recently established High Temperature Response Alliance led by the Ministry of Environment, Lu said. The data include temperature, humidity, radiation intensity and ambient wind,
SECOND SPEECH: All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist the CCP, despite their differences, the president said President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday discussed how pro-Taiwan and pro-Republic of China (ROC) groups can agree to maintain solidarity on the issue of protecting Taiwan and resisting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The talk, delivered last night at Taoyuan’s Hakka Youth Association, was the second in a series of 10 that Lai is scheduled to give across Taiwan. Citing Taiwanese democracy pioneer Chiang Wei-shui’s (蔣渭水) slogan that solidarity brings strength, Lai said it was a call for political parties to find consensus amid disagreements on behalf of bettering the nation. All political parties should work together to defend democracy, protect Taiwan and resist
RSS