Taiwan has for the first time deployed cruise missiles capable of striking key military bases along China’s southeastern coast, media reported yesterday.
Mass production of the indigenous Hsiung Feng-IIE (HF-2E), which has a reported range of 650km, has been completed and the missiles have come into service, the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) reported, citing an unnamed military source.
The Ministry of National Defense (MND) declined to comment on the report, but the paper said the project, codenamed “Chichun” (“Lance Hawk”), cost about NT$30 billion (US$1.02 billion).
Photo: Lo Tien-pin, Taipei Times
Meanwhile, a legislative -committee yesterday approved a bill asking the navy to equip a new type of fast attack missile boat being developed under the “Hsun Hai” (“Swift Sea”) program with HF-2E missiles.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lin Yu-fang (林郁方) told a Foreign and National Defense Committee meeting that stealth Hsun Hai missile corvettes equipped with HF-2Es could launch retaliatory attacks on Chinese military targets.
He said attacks from the sea provided the advantage of un-predictability, with better range and angles of attack than land-based launchers.
Lin submitted a bill requesting the navy equip the 450 tonne fast attack missile boats with HF-2Es.
The bill was approved by the committee.
Deputy Minister of National Defense Chao Shih-chang (趙世璋) told the committee that the military agreed to evaluate the proposal.
Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co won a bid to build prototypes of the fast attack missile boat, with plans for completion by the end of 2014. According to design plans, the corvette will also be equipped with HF-3 supersonic anti-ship missiles.
Meanwhile, Lin said a decision by the ministry to house P-3C marine patrol aircraft at Pingtung Airbase would cause delays in delivery.
Taiwan has procured 12 P-3Cs from the US, with the first six to be delivered next year, five in 2014 and the last one in 2015.
However, Lin alleged that construction of the hangars at Pingtung Airbase had been delayed until 2017, which he said could force a delay in the deployment of the P-3Cs — aircraft that would play a crucial role in detecting submarines.
Chao denied there would be any delay, adding that the aircraft would use existing hangars and maintenance systems at Pingtung Airbase.
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday reported the first case of a new COVID-19 subvariant — BA.3.2 — in a 10-year-old Singaporean girl who had a fever upon arrival in Taiwan and tested positive for the disease. The girl left Taiwan on March 20 and the case did not have a direct impact on the local community, it said. The WHO added the BA.3.2 strain to its list of Variants Under Monitoring in December last year, but this was the first imported case of the COVID-19 variant in Taiwan, CDC Deputy Director-General Lin Ming-cheng (林明誠) said. The girl arrived in Taiwan on
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park this weekend, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a theme food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances. Pokemon Go Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as photo attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs. Pokemon trainers could also experience the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area. Three PokeStops are to be set up in the park. Trainers are invited to take
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