Taiwan arms warship with supersonic missiles

Taipei: Taiwan has for the first time installed home-developed anti-ship missiles on a warship in a significant boost of its naval defence against rival China, a report said Friday.

The supersonic Hsiung-feng (Brave Wind) 3 missiles were seen on the Perry-class Cheng Kung frigate in the southern port of Tsoying on Thursday, said the United Daily News.

The paper quoted commander-in-chief Admiral Wang Li-shen as saying that defence authorities will determine how to deploy the missiles and on which warships after testing is completed.

It also cited an unnamed navy official as saying that the authorities hope to wrap up testing by the end of the year.

Analysts say the Hsiung-feng 3 can be fitted with a variety of guidance systems and can function as a ship-to-ship, land-attack or anti-radar missile.

With a range of at least 130 kilometres (80 miles), the Hsiung-feng 3 has been designed to counter the Russia-made SS-N-22 Sunburn bought by China, analysts say.

Taiwan first unveiled the Hsiung-feng 3 missiles to the public in a rare military parade on October 10, 2007, which was seen as a reminder to China that it has the weaponry to defend itself.

Beijing has repeatedly warned of an invasion should Taiwan declare formal independence.

In his New Year speech, Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian warned that China had increased the number of tactical ballistic missiles targeting Taiwan from 200 in 2000 to more than 1,300 now.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 at the end of a civil war, although Beijing regards the self-ruling island as part of its territory awaiting reunification. [link to www.defencetalk.com]