As part of a series of reform measures Taiwan's military plans to downsize its "political warfare" unit and develop high-speed anti-radiation missiles (HARM) to attack China's radars and warships, reports said yesterday.
For now the structure of Taiwan's political warfare units will remain unchanged under the military reform bill, which is in the government discussion stage.
"The adjustment of structure and status for the existing political warfare units has been slated for the second stage of the reform," reports said.
There have been growing calls for the removal of the units following the island's democratization. The units have been primarily in charge of the Nationalist army's ideological struggle against Chinese communist forces.
Meanwhile, Taiwan has stepped up efforts to develop and buy missiles that could be used to destroy radar systems and warships following China's acquisition of an advanced Russian-built destroyer, reports said.
Taiwan's military-run Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology has been quietly engaged in the development of Rangefinder, a crucial component for high-speed anti-radiation missiles (HARM), reports said.
The missiles could be used to attack China's military installations, should the People's Liberation Army invade Taiwan, it was reported. The defense ministry would not comment on the reports.
Washington has repeatedly rejected Taiwan's bid to purchase HARMs on the basis they could be used as offensive weapons.
However, reports said Washington may alter its position, after the first of four Sovremenny class destroyers Beijing ordered from Moscow joined the Chinese navy this week.
According to a local newspaper, Taiwan's Air Force will establish its first electronic warfare unit next month to guard against electronic warfare waged by China.
The unit will employ five electronic warfare planes -- four E2T early-warning planes and one EC130 electronic warfare plane.
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