Army Command Headquarters yesterday said that only anti-tank munitions would be included in a proposed purchase of US Volcano mine-dispensing systems, and the deal does not breach international laws banning anti-personnel mines.
The statement came after independent Legislator May Chin (高金素梅) expressed concern that the proposed purchase risked creating a “landmine hell” similar to that experienced by post-war Cambodia.
The metal-cased anti-vehicle mines could not be accidentally triggered by people stepping on them, and such munitions would only be deployed in the event of war, the army said in a statement.
Photo: Screen grab from the US Army Reserve Web site
It also said that a purchase of the Volcano systems would not breach local and international laws prohibiting the acquisition and use of anti-personnel mines.
The US Army in the 1980s developed the M136 Volcano automated mine delivery system, which can be mounted on ground vehicles or helicopters.
Called a Ground Volcano when fitted to land-based vehicles, it uses prepackaged mine canisters that contain multiple anti-personnel or anti-tank mines that can be placed across a vast area.
The main advantage of the system to Taiwan is its ability to rapidly deploy anti-tank mines to ward off an amphibious landing, the army said, adding that it has been considering such a purchase since 2018.
The proposed US$180 million deal — approved by the US Department of State on Dec. 28 last year — includes vehicle-launched Volcano anti-tank munition-laying systems and M977A4 HEMTT 10-tonne cargo trucks on which the system would be mounted, the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement.
The sale is likely to be confirmed by the US Congress within the next month, it added.
Su Tzu-yun (蘇紫雲), a research fellow at the government-funded Institute for National Defense and Security Research, dismissed concerns that the arms deal would contravene the UN Ottawa Treaty, given that it bans the use of anti-personnel landmines only.
Changes made by Washington to the US’ anti-personnel landmine policy places bans on producing and exporting anti-personnel landmines, he added.
Taiwan would only deploy the Volcano anti-tank system to a few beaches on which an amphibious landing could be made, Su said.
The mines themselves are defensive in nature and would delay rather than defeat an enemy advance, he added.
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
ECONOMIC BENEFITS: The imports from Belize would replace those from Honduras, whose shrimp exports have dropped 67 percent since cutting ties in 2023 Maintaining ties with Taiwan has economic benefits, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials said yesterday, citing the approval of frozen whiteleg shrimp imports from Belize by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an example. The FDA on Wednesday approved the tariff-free imports from Belize after the whiteleg shrimp passed the Systematic Inspection of Imported Food, which would continue to boost mutual trade, the ministry said. Taiwan’s annual consumption of whiteleg shrimps stands at 30,000 tonnes, far exceeding domestic production, the ministry said. Taiwan used to fill the gap by importing shrimps from Honduras, but purchases slumped after Tegucigalpa severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan
RSS