Beijing’s ongoing buildup of modern, radar-equipped warships represents a “clear threat” to Taiwan, an expert on China’s military has warned.
“The eventual number of such ships is unknown, but could exceed 20 by the early to mid-2020s,” International Assessment and Strategy Center senior fellow Rick Fisher said.
He issued the warning after a report in Defense News said that by 2018, China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) will have more phased-array radar-equipped destroyers than any regional competitor — including Japan and South Korea.
The US-based magazine said that Beijing had commissioned its fifth Type 052C destroyer, the Jinan, on Dec. 22 last year, “leaving one last ship of that type to be finished.”
The magazine said that the Chinese navy’s procurement of Luyang-class Type 052C/Ds and Type 055 guided-missile cruisers with phased-array radars would provide long-range anti-aircraft warfare support to China’s planned carrier strike groups.
Fisher told the Taipei Times that the ships would be incorporated into anti-surface warfare groups that can use their long-range radar to help target long-range anti-ship ballistic missile strikes or cruise missile strikes from strike-fighters and bombers.
“Their larger size and larger weapons compliment means they can conduct anti-aircraft and anti-submarine missions in support of aircraft carrier and amphibious assault groups,” Fisher said.
He added that the next class of destroyer China will build is the Type 055, which is expected to be an 11,800-tonne destroyer capable of carrying more than 100 missiles and which could also be the first Chinese warship to use energy weapons like lasers or railguns.
“China’s rapid buildup of these large powerful warships helps to justify Taiwan’s requirement for submarines large enough to carry an adequate weapons payload of long-range anti-ship missiles and long-range torpedoes a significant distance from Taiwan,” Fisher added.
Echoing other defense experts, he said that a fleet of mini-submarines may not survive an offensive once they are at the distance from Taiwan proper they would have to be to engage the large Chinese warships.
“China’s large radar and missile ships also pose a grave threat to Taiwan’s fleet of 12 P-3C Orion anti-submarine aircraft, again emphasizing Taiwan’s requirement for larger submarines capable of anti-submarine missions,” Fisher said.
Defense News said that the new destroyers would serve as the PLAN’s “workhorses,” giving the navy more flexibility.
In a Taiwan contingency, the vessels could provide area-wide defensive air coverage, “complicating Taipei’s ability to defend its airspace,” the magazine added.
Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) was sentenced to six months in prison, commutable to a fine, by the New Taipei District Court today for contravening the Personal Data Protection Act (個人資料保護法) in a case linked to an alleged draft-dodging scheme. Wang allegedly paid NT$3.6 million (US$114,380) to an illegal group to help him evade mandatory military service through falsified medical documents, prosecutors said. He transferred the funds to Chen Chih-ming (陳志明), the alleged mastermind of a draft-evasion ring, although he lost contact with him as he was already in detention on fraud charges, they said. Chen is accused of helping a
SECURITY: Starlink owner Elon Musk has taken pro-Beijing positions, and allowing pro-China companies to control Taiwan’s critical infrastructure is risky, a legislator said Starlink was reluctant to offer services in Taiwan because of the nation’s extremely high penetration rates in 4G and 5G services, the Ministry of Digital Affairs said yesterday. The ministry made the comments at a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, which reviewed amendments to Article 36 of the Telecommunications Management Act (電信管理法). Article 36 bans foreigners from holding more than 49 percent of shares in public telecommunications networks, while shares foreigners directly and indirectly hold are also capped at 60 percent of the total, unless specified otherwise by law. The amendments, sponsored by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Ko
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
The eastern extension of the Taipei MRT Red Line could begin operations as early as late June, the Taipei Department of Rapid Transit Systems said yesterday. Taipei Rapid Transit Corp said it is considering offering one month of free rides on the new section to mark its opening. Construction progress on the 1.4km extension, which is to run from the current terminal Xiangshan Station to a new eastern terminal, Guangci/Fengtian Temple Station, was 90.6 percent complete by the end of last month, the department said in a report to the Taipei City Council's Transportation Committee. While construction began in October 2016 with an
RSS