• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Washington, Aug. 16 (CNA) The Republic of China badly needs US-developed missile defense system to upgrade its capability to cope with mainland China's low-altitude cruise missiles, ROC Defense Minister Tang Fei said in an interview with the Defense News weekly.

The American weekly said in its latest issue that mainland China's purchase of 60 Russian-made Su-30 advanced fighter jets has prompted the ROC government to adjust its air-defense strategy, including beefing up air-defense facilities and air combat capabilities in eastern Taiwan.

In another Taipei-datelined report appearing in the same issue of the weekly, Minister Tang said if communist China uses missiles or other conventional military forces to attack Taiwan, the ROC economy would be seriously affected. Therefore, he said, Taiwan must make proper investment in the military field to offset pressure from mainland China's military build-up, particularly its ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and satellite technology.

Tang told the Defense News that the ROC is studying how to enhance its defense capabilities against low-altitude missiles. In addition to developing its own missile defense system, Tang said Taiwan is very interested in purchasing US-made Patriot III modified missile defense system and Aegis radar system

Tang said acquiring Aegis radar system is critical to upgrade Taiwan's ability to intercept low-altitude cruise missiles from mainland China.

During the 1999 ROC-US military meeting held in Washington, D.C. in April, the United States tentatively agreed to provide Taiwan with early warning radar system. Nevertheless, the Clinton administration is still mulling some details concerning the deal.

The Defense News said the Clinton administration has also agreed to sell six additional sets of Patriot missile defense system to Taiwan to help fortify air-defense facilities in major areas outside Taipei. However, the weekly said, the quantity and quality Taiwan demands are far higher than what the United States has agreed to offer.

Quoting a congressional report unveiled in February on the military build-up on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, the weekly said Taiwan's biggest disadvantage lies in its limited ability to fight against mainland China's ever-growing ballistic missiles.

(By Herman Pan and Sofia Wu)