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MND denies story about new missile

The Ministry of National Defense yesterday denied a media report that stated that the military is secretly developing a medium-range ballistic missile.

The defense ministry said the report was untrue and the military has never been engaged in developing a medium-range ballistic missile.

The ministry was responding to a report by the United Daily News that the medium-range ballistic missile development project has been approved by President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), and is now being listed by the military as one of its top priorities.

The missile development project, coded "Diching," is secretly making progress at the military's Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology.

The missile being developed is believed to have a range of between 1,000km and 2,000km, capable of reaching inland targets in China, the news report said.

Quoting anonymous defense officials, the report said the medium-range ballistic missile development project would not be a difficult job for the institute, which has previous experience in developing similar missiles of shorter range.

What is challenging for the institute, the report said, is to develop a highly accurate warhead for the medium-range missile.

The institute will not consider developing nuclear, biological and chemical warheads for the missile, the news report said.

The defense ministry responded quickly to the news report, questioning not only its truthfulness but also its motives.

The ministry called on the press not to report unconfirmed news, which it said will "affect the security of the country, morale of the people and image of the country."

Despite denials by the ministry, the military's secret medium-range ballistic missile project has been rumored to be in development for some time.

A lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he is not certain as to whether the military is developing a medium-range ballistic missile, but that he is sure a short-range ballistic missile has been successfully developed.

The lawmaker, who has close ties to the military, said the short-range ballistic missile should have been deployed somewhere in the country since it has been successfully developed for several years.

The short-range ballistic missile referred to is coded "Tienchi." It was said to have been completed around two to three years ago.

The range of the missile is said to be about 120km, which does not pose a threat to China since the Taiwan Strait which separates Taiwan and China is wider than that.

Over a decade ago, the institute tried to develop a medium-range ballistic missile but later cancelled the project because of US pressure.

The missile development project, coded "Sky Horse," was called off several years after it started.

It was said that the institute had successfully built about 10 medium-range ballistic missiles before it terminated the project.

The Sky Horse missiles were said to have been deployed somewhere in the Central Mountain Range, and some were rumored to be equipped with nuclear or chemical warheads.
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