A new construction project listed in the government’s e-procurement system as commissioned by the air force has roused speculation that it could be a bid to enhance missile bases on Lienchiang County’s Dongyin Island (東引).
The construction is projected to cost NT$402 million (US$13.8 million) and be concluded by June 30, 2022, bid results on the platform showed.
However, the military in a statement on Monday said that the project was to improve the quality of life for armed forces personnel stationed on the island.
In a response to the statement, a military source said that the cost far exceeded the funds required for such improvements, adding that it might be a bid to reinforce newly established facilities on the island.
The maximum interception range for the Tien Kung III missile system is 40km, but the effective interception range falls between 24km and 26km, which is similar to the US’ MIM-104 Patriot-3 missile system, the source said.
The Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology is hoping to increase the maximum range to 70km and the effective range to 35km to 40km so that the missiles could better counter the threat posed by Chinese missiles, the source added.
“We are, essentially, hoping that our missile systems would have a portion of the US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system capability,” the source said.
The radar system on Dongyin Island is capable of monitoring all activity at the Yixu and Longtian People’s Liberation Army Air Force bases in China’s Fujian Province, the source said, adding that the radar system could also track and lock on to Chinese planes should their actions constitute a direct threat to Taiwan.
Eight Chinese naval vessels and 24 military aircraft were detected crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait between 6am yesterday and 6am today, the Ministry of National Defense said this morning. The aircraft entered Taiwan’s northern, central, southwestern and eastern air defense identification zones, the ministry said. The armed forces responded with mission aircraft, naval vessels and shore-based missile systems to closely monitor the situation, it added. Eight naval vessels, one official ship and 36 aircraft sorties were spotted in total, the ministry said.
INCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday
The Ministry of National Defense yesterday reported the return of large-scale Chinese air force activities after their unexplained absence for more than two weeks, which had prompted speculation regarding Beijing’s motives. China usually sends fighter jets, drones and other military aircraft around the nation on a daily basis. Interruptions to such routine are generally caused by bad weather. The Ministry of National Defense said it had detected 26 Chinese military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait over the previous 24 hours. It last reported that many aircraft on Feb. 25, when it spotted 30 aircraft, saying Beijing was carrying out another “joint combat
Taiwan successfully defended its women’s 540 kilogram title and won its first-ever men’s 640 kg title at the 2026 World Indoor Tug of War Championships in Taipei yesterday. In the women’s event, Taiwan’s eight-person squad reached the final following a round-robin preliminary round and semifinals featuring teams from Ukraine, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Basque Country and South Korea. In the finals, they swept the Basque team 2-0, giving the team composed mainly of National Taiwan Normal University students and graduates its second championship in a row, and its fourth in five years. Team captain
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