Taiwan is actively researching a ballistic missile that could strike China, a US think tank says, a weapon that could drastically alter the military balance in one of the world's most dangerous hot spots.
Such a medium-range missile could hit targets about 1,000km away, according to the new Rand Corp study, "Taiwan's Foreign and Defense Policies: Features and Determinants."
The Rand study -- written by researchers Michael Swaine and James Mulvenon -- was based on "interviews in Taiwan" with unidentified sources.
A Defense Ministry spokesman, speaking on officials of the ministry's customary condition of anonymity, told reporters yesterday that Taiwan was not researching such a weapon.
The Rand report said that the US would likely detect any testing or deployment of the missiles and could pressure Taiwan to stop the program.
But the study suggests that "policy-makers in Washington should be alerted to the possibility that the program is actually a `card' to be dealt away in exchange for specific weapons systems or enhanced defense commitments."
Taiwan's military has long focused on maintaining a modern arsenal of defensive arms to stop a Chinese invasion.
The country has shunned offensive weapons -- such as medium-range missiles.
But some defense experts have argued that Taiwan should develop medium range missiles as a deterrent to a first strike by China.
The missiles could also help stop a second or third wave of attacks by Chinese forces.
However, other analysts have argued that if Taiwan was armed with offensive weapons, the US and other nations would be less likely to assist the country in a war with China.
By maintaining a purely defensive posture, Taiwan would be better able to win the sympathy of other countries if attacked by a belligerent China, they say.
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