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.
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
The Hualien Branch of the High Court today sentenced the main suspect in the 2021 fatal derailment of the Taroko Express to 12 years and six months in jail in the second trial of the suspect for his role in Taiwan’s deadliest train crash. Lee Yi-hsiang (李義祥), the driver of a crane truck that fell onto the tracks and which the the Taiwan Railways Administration's (TRA) train crashed into in an accident that killed 49 people and injured 200, was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in the first trial by the Hualien District Court in 2022. Hoa Van Hao, a
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
RSS