Taiwan has successfully tested its domestically developed Hsiung Feng anti-ship missile, the China Times newspaper said on Sunday, as the island attempts to beef up its defence capability against China's growing military threat. Taiwan could begin "small initial production" of the Hsiung Feng, with a 1,000-km (600-mile) range that could hit military bases in China's south-east, this year or in 2006, the Chinese-language newspaper said, quoting unidentified sources.
Taiwan is keen to boost its defences against China, which claims the self-governing, democratic island as part of its territory. China has threatened to invade if Taiwan declares formal independence.
The Taiwan government has been trying to push through a $15 billion special budget to buy US arms, but opposition lawmakers have repeatedly blocked the plan, saying that the weapons were overpriced.
China has an estimated 725 missiles aimed at Taiwan and analysts rate the Taiwan Strait one of Asia's most dangerous hot spots.
On Saturday, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld accused China of enhancing its military ability to project power at a time when it faced no threat.
Comments
Comments are closed.