Taipei, Aug. 3 (CNA) Republic of China Defense Minister Tang Fei said on Tuesday that mainland China's development of a new intercontinental missile "is not worthy of praise" from the viewpoint of world peace because it is being used as a tool to pursue hegemony.
He made the remark while responding to reporters outside the Legislative Yuan.
Tang also noted that the missiles in question, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, have a range of 8,000 kilometers, and cost as much as US$100 million each.
Therefore, he pointed out, if mainland China were to use such weapons to attack Taiwan, it would be akin to "taking a hammer to crack a nut."
The successful test-firing of the missile by mainland China on Monday, and a Hong Kong report about mainland China's heightened war readiness, have caused new concern in Taiwan.
Tang asked the public to believe the Defense Ministry rather than reports and speculation in the Hong Kong media, while a Ministry of National Defense (MND) spokesman told the media that the test-firing of the new type of missile is primarily to deter big powers rather than Taiwan.
Regarding the Hong Kong report that the People's Liberation Army has heightened its state of military alert in Fujian Province, the spokesman said that no unusual movement has been detected so far.
He noted that the MND has been keeping a close watch on mainland China's military movements and exercises, and will inform the public of its findings "at an appropriate time," so long as such information does not affect national security.
(By Victor Lai)
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