Taiwan Missile Mishap

[Randy W]

It's unclear WHAT to think of this news report from the Focus Taiwan News Channel

 

Taiwan missile mishap strikes fishing boat, kills captain (update)

 

http://img5.cna.com.tw/www/WebPhotos/800/20160701/54397912.jpg

 

http://img5.cna.com.tw/www/WebPhotos/800/20160701/43639053.jpg

 

Earlier in the day, Mei said the missile blunder, which occurred during a drill, was most likely caused by human error and by missile operators not following standard procedure.

The missile was accidentally launched from one of the Navy's 500-ton Chinchiang-class corvettes from Zuoying Military Harbor in Kaohsiung at 8:15 a.m. and hit the fishing boat about two minutes later, according to the Navy.

It hit the fishing boat an estimated 40 nautical miles from the harbor. A chart provided by the Navy showed that the simulated position targeted by the missile was in the Taiwan Strait, northwest of the harbor and southeast of the offshore county of Penghu.

 

 

 

Responding to reporters' questions at a news conference called in the wake of the incident, he said that the missile, which fell into waters about 40 nautical miles northwest of the military harbor, did not cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

 

. . .

 

In response to questions on whether the Navy notified China of the incident and whether Beijing has expressed concerns over the incident, Mei said the Navy has no direct communication channel with China.

But the Navy has reported related information to the National Security Council and other higher-up government agencies to deal with follow-up responses, he said.

 

 

[Randy W]

It appears to be a Taiwanese boat, but the missile was fired toward China

[Randy W]

The Global Times finally speaks up -

 

Messy politics behind Taiwan missile error

 

Jumbled politics might be the root cause for the missile mistake. Taiwan is not a state, but the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) keeps pursuing the daydream of independence. Tsai won't accept the 1992 Consensus, which has been the political foundation for the cross-Straits relationship for years, but she also vows to maintain the status quo. Recent years have seen Taiwan swaying back and forth on the path of nailing down its fundamental outlook for cross-Straits ties. The future of the island is becoming uncertain, and each rotation of the ruling parties can make a huge impact on Taiwan, like a revolution.

More and more military experts believe that, as the mainland keeps reinforcing its overwhelming competitive advantage over Taiwan in military capability, Taiwan's troops are becoming merely guards of honor. If there is a showdown across the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwan military stands no chance of making a difference.

It has become increasingly difficult to boost confidence among Taiwan troops. The entire body is full of confusion, because the political objective and the efforts in war preparation have become meaningless. That is why the Taiwan troops are disturbed by lack of discipline and even scandals.

It is Tsai and her DPP that have steered Taiwan off the right path. The responsibility shouldn't be simply taken by some negligent soldiers.

The accidental missile launch is extremely dangerous and could trigger a war between the mainland and Taiwan. What's more serious is Tsai and her DPP evading recognition of the 1992 Consensus, which has done great damage to the hard-earned mutual trust across the Straits. Amid the rise of distrust, both sides won't be able to ask for a soft landing after accidents take place, thus the odds of a direct confrontation will get much higher. Tsai's hope of maintaining the status quo in the cross-Straits relationship can hardly be realized.

 

[Randy W]

They included some striking photos of Taiwan on their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/globaltimesnews/posts/1118151094932456

[Greg.D.]

]More and more military experts believe that, as the mainland keeps reinforcing its overwhelming competitive advantage over Taiwan in military capability, Taiwan's troops are becoming merely guards of honor. If there is a showdown across the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwan military stands no chance of making a difference.

With frenemies like that, who needs democracy, culture, free speech and independence?

[Allon]

 

]More and more military experts believe that, as the mainland keeps reinforcing its overwhelming competitive advantage over Taiwan in military capability, Taiwan's troops are becoming merely guards of honor. If there is a showdown across the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwan military stands no chance of making a difference.

With frenemies like that, who needs democracy, culture, free speech and independence?

 

 

It has been clear for decades that the US remains an ally despite the "unification" agreements. We have beefed up our presence in the South China sea with 3 full aircraft carrier battle groups, and renewed contracts for bases in the Philippines and even providing arms to Vietnam. Japan has also beefed up its military.

 

All of these countries are wary of China especially with regard to their claims on the outlying islands. Taiwan would be a probable starting point for any conflict but I get the feeling from some posts that China would be reluctant to invade Taiwan for fear of losses. Taiwan has a pretty good defense force itself, slowly built up over the years with a lot of aid from the US of course. But predictions are that Taiwan would last about a month by itself. China could blockade Taiwan but then the other countries would certainly object on the same basis as the disputed islands: unfettered access to the high seas.

 

Just hope it never happens. But hope is a white horse you ride.........

[Randy W]

in the SCMP

 

Taiwan navy officers jailed over deadly missile accident

A fisherman was killed and three others were injured off Penghu last year when the ‘aircraft carrier killer’ was mistakenly fired

 

Three naval officers in Taiwan were handed jail terms ranging from 14 months to two years on Saturday over the accidental launch of a missile that killed a fisherman and injured three others in waters off Penghu county last year, the Central News Agency reported.

 

. . .

 

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen slammed the incident as “absolutely inexcusable”, saying it showed an “utter contempt of discipline and a complete lack of competence” within the military.

Critics said the incident exposed a serious lapse in management within the navy, while local media questioned how a petty officer could single-handedly launch the missile, which requires three procedures for clearance.