Taiwan boosts its defences as long-range missile goes into mass production
- Three other long-range missiles are in development, deputy head of research institute says
- Taiwan is keen to bolster its strike capabilities in the event of it coming under attack from mainland China
The island’s armed forces are in the middle of a modernisation programme to offer a more effective deterrent, including the ability to hit back at bases deep within mainland China in the event of a conflict.
Taking questions in parliament, Taiwan’s Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said developing a long-range attack capability was a priority.
“We hope it is long-range, accurate and mobile,” he said, adding research on such weapons by the state-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology had “never stopped”.
The institute’s deputy director Leng Chin-hsu said one long-range, land-based missile had already entered production and three other long-range missiles were in development.
He said it was “not convenient” for him to provide details on how far the missile could fly.