Taiwan might still be trying to obtain AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles to achieve the military’s invasion-deterrence goals, a Ministry of National Defense report showed.
The Progress Report on the Development of Asymmetric Warfare Capabilities (發展不對稱作戰之精實成效), submitted to the legislature and dated Oct. 8, states that the defense ministry seeks to procure several types of US-made missiles and bombs for Taiwan’s fleet of F-16V jets.
The weapons include AGM-84 Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response missiles, AGM-88 High-speed anti-Radiation Missiles, the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon and as yet unnamed “significant extended-range capable air-launched missiles.”
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
The unnamed weapon is believed to be AGM-158A and AGM-158B missiles, which are stealth munitions with an effective range of 370km and greater than 926km respectively.
A ministry spokesperson refused to confirm the type of munition mentioned in the progress report.
The other three types of munitions referred to in the report were included in a NT$45.1 billion (US$1.4 billion) arms deal signed in January by the Defense Mission to the US and the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto US embassy in the nation.
The weapons are intended to enhance the ground and sea attack capabilities of F-16V jets operating from air force bases in Taitung, the defense ministry said in the report.
The military’s defense goals emphasize long-range precision strikes, integrated air defense, joint sea control, joint homeland defense, cyberwarfare, and joint command, control and surveillance capabilities, it said.
Long-range precision strike capability is the highest priority among the six capabilities being developed, as it enables the armed forces to target an enemy’s operational center of gravity and disrupt its deployment of sea and air units, the ministry said.
That capability is to be achieved through procurements and domestically developed weapon systems, including the Hsiung Sheng II-E and Wan Chien land-attack cruise missiles, and Chien Hsiang loitering munitions, it said.
The ministry is continuing to create highly mobile combat units with long-range precision strike capabilities to increase defense depth and form a multilayered invasion-deterrence strategy, it said.
GAINING STEAM: The scheme initially failed to gather much attention, with only 188 cards issued in its first year, but gained popularity amid the COVID-19 pandemic Applications for the Employment Gold Card have increased in the past few years, with the card having been issued to a total of 13,191 people from 101 countries since its introduction in 2018, the National Development Council (NDC) said yesterday. Those who have received the card have included celebrities, such as former NBA star Dwight Howard and Australian-South Korean cheerleader Dahye Lee, the NDC said. The four-in-one Employment Gold Card combines a work permit, resident visa, Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) and re-entry permit. It was first introduced in February 2018 through the Act Governing Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals (外國專業人才延攬及雇用法),
CAUTION URGED: Xiaohongshu and Douyin — the Chinese version of TikTok — are tools the Chinese government uses for its ‘united front’ propaganda, the MAC said Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) yesterday urged people who use Chinese social media platforms to be cautious of being influenced by Beijing’s “united front” propaganda and undermining Taiwan’s sovereignty. Chiu made the remarks in response to queries about Chinese academic Zhang Weiwei (張維為) saying that as young Taiwanese are fond of interacting on Chinese app Xiaohongshu (小紅書, known as RedNote in English), “after unification with China, it would be easier to govern Taiwan than Hong Kong.” Zhang is professor of international relations at Shanghai’s Fudan University and director of its China Institute. When giving a speech at China’s Wuhan
ENHANCE DETERRENCE: Taiwan has to display ‘fierce resolve’ to defend itself for China to understand that the costs of war outweigh potential gains, Koo said Taiwan’s armed forces must reach a high level of combat readiness by 2027 to effectively deter a potential Chinese invasion, Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) said in an interview with the Chinese-language Liberty Times (sister newspaper of the Taipei Times) published yesterday. His comments came three days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the US Senate that deterring a Chinese attack on Taiwan requires making a conflict “cost more than what it’s worth.” Rubio made the remarks in response to a question about US policy on Taiwan’s defense from Republican Senator John Cornyn, who said that Chinese
The zero emissions ship Porrima P111 was launched yesterday in Kaohsiung, showcasing the nation’s advancement in green technology, city Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said. The nation last year acquired the Swiss-owned vessel, formerly known as Turanor PlanetSolar, in a bid to boost Taiwan’s technology sector, as well as ecotourism in Palau, Chen said at the ship’s launch ceremony at Singda Harbor. Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr and Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) also attended the event. The original vessel was the first solar-powered ship to circumnavigate the globe in a voyage from 2010 to 2012. Taiwan-based Porrima Inc (保利馬) installed upgrades with
RSS