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HSIUNGFENG MISSILE UPGRADING DESIGNED FOR MARITIME DEFENSE: MND

ROC Central News Agency

2006-09-05 10:27:07
(repeat)

    Taipei, Sept. 4 (CNA) An ongoing Hsiungfeng-class missile upgrading project is aimed at beefing up the country's maritime defense capabilities in the face of China's mounting military threat, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said Monday.

    The ministry was responding to media reports that the military-run Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (CIST) is modifying its Hsiungfeng II missile so that it will be able to hit major Chinese political and military targets.

    According to the reports, the modified version of the CIST-developed Hsiungfeng II missile, with a range of 2,000 kilometers, will be able to hit targets in major Chinese cities such as Beijing. The report speculated that the upgraded missiles will begin coming off the assembly line by next year. "The report is misleading and totally wrong, " the MND said in a press release.

    The press statement reiterated that the country's military buildup plan has consistently followed the principles of establishing an elite deterrent force. "Our military buildup plan is based on the strategic notions of deterrence and self-defense, with safeguarding peace and security in the Taiwan Strait as our ultimate policy goal," the statement said.

    What the CIST is doing is to upgrade the Hsiungfeng II missile's performance and efficacy in sea battle and maritime defense, the statement added.

    It also expressed hope that local media outlets will stop running speculative and ill-informed reports about the country's military buildup or defense technology development plans. "To avoid misleading their readers and audiences, media outlets should base their reports about our country's military buildup and arsenal development projects strictly on the news releases issued by the Military Spokesman's Office or statements issued by identified MND officials," the press statement said.

    Military sources said the upgraded or modified version of the Hsiungfeng II missile is a mid-range land-based mobile strategic missile -- basically an anti-ship missile -- and not a land attack cruise missile as the media has speculated. The modified version remains a defensive weapon rather than an offensive one, the sources added.

(By Sofia Wu)

ENDITEM/J