A strategist with Taiwan’s renowned Tamkang University has suggested procurement of 1,000 medium-range missiles for a grand total of NT$30 billion (US$1 billion).
With a complement of missiles that can attack targets within a radius of 1,000-1,500 kilometers, about 30 People’s Liberation Army airbases could be sealed off in the event of war between mainland China and Taiwan, Peter Su, senior researcher with Tamkang University’s Center for Advanced Technology, told a recent forum on Taiwan’s defense strategies.
All of China’s eastern and southeastern provinces as well as much of central and northern China fall within 1,500km from Taipei.
Currently Taiwan’s indigenous Hsiung Feng IIE surface-to-surface cruise missiles have a range of more than 600km, bringing some mainland coastal cities and military establishments within their radius.
The Taiwanese military has ramped up funding for developing more powerful, longer-range missiles that can put Shanghai, Guangzhou and even the Three Gorges Dam within range.
Citing the Taiwanese defense minister at the time, Michael Tsai, a 2014 report by the Taipei-based Liberty Times also revealed that during former president Chen Shui-bian’s last year in power in 2008, the island had already been trialing missiles with ranges well exceeding 1,000km.
Tsai accompanied Chen to a military base in Taiwan’s southernmost county of Pingtung and inspected a drill in which a missile flew “well beyond the typical range of a medium-range missile.”
But while having the know-how to develop these missiles is one thing, beefing up production for their swift deployment is another. Hence Su’s proposal to splurge on procurement from overseas.
A panelist asked during the forum’s question and answer session about the possibility of a pounce-like missile offensive targeting China’s key infrastructure sites such as the Three Gorges Dam, which straddles the Yangtze River in the Hubei province, some 1,200km northwest of Taipei.
Su replied briefly that two missiles would do the job.
Destroying the Three Gorges Dam has been a tactic floated and hotly debated in Taiwan since the early 1990s, when the dam was still under construction as China’s No 1 infrastructure and hydroelectricity project in the 20th century.
There would be cataclysmic floods deluging cities and farmlands in central and eastern China if the 2,335-meter-long, 181-meter-high dam were to collapse after a missile attack.
But Chinese media say the dam is a steel-concrete gravity dam and the water is held back by the innate mass of the individual dam sections, thus any damage to one section should not affect other parts, and the dam could withstand the impact of a tactical nuclear strike thanks to its sheer size.
It’s said that the PLA has installed a good number of anti-air and anti-surface missiles in the vicinity of the dam plus a regional theater missile defense shield, forming a well-guarded no-fly zone that encompasses the dam and its peripheral structures.
Attacking the Three Gorges dam which is a non-military structure will cause massive damages to civilians. I doubt anyone would dare to carry out the attack. It would invite a massive Chinese reprisal which would totally destroy Taiwan.
Taiwan is just a pawn in the chess game between China and the US. It is a very important pawn though.
Sounds like a CIA authored document. If Taiewan were to dare such a manuver it would shortly cease to exist. So this is one rosy scenario that will be shelved.
Taiewan fighting a war with China would be a war fought for American interests because it would be recommended by the CIA to weaken China before an attack by the USA. Like the North Koreans, I dont think that the Taiwanese are suicidal and also that they are smart enough to see that they are just cannon fodder for the USA.
Great noble thinking, suggesting civilian infrastructure be targeted, war crime by any definition, so much for “democracy”. Of course, any idiot who do so will see TAiwan island completely destroyed. What an idiot
Suicidal.
Missed Ma years yet? People seems to forget for 8 years relations were amicable, mainland even cooperated with taiwan to join international organizations as good will while Taiwan still pretty much was maintained autonomous. That was the deal, one China policy is the anchor both sides reconizes then cooperate, with neither side rushing for anything.
Now DPP cohorts gets in charge and looks like everything went broke and all the dogs went loose LOL. Planning attack on 3 gorges? Are they serious? Then its just the excuse mainland need to reunity by force before those idiots can prepare, such as begin production or acquisition of the missiles. Arrest the people that really seriously considered such destructive ideas that purposely kill millions of civilians, try them in military court and have them shot. No need for mercy there.
Good target for Taiwan
Will cripple China
WIth the sabre rattling of the militarists, in the PRC, Taiwan would do well to be ready for invasion.
The Chinese Communist Party is itching for a war, to galvanise Chinese thoughts, outwards, instead of inwards.
The dictatorship is so frightened of its own military juggernaut, taking over in a military coup, that it has to pose foreign enemies to eradicate..
China, would not be fun to be on the receiving end.
That would definitely be one way to get nuked.
lol
NO. Taiwan is no pawn of China. Taiwan is Chinese. And 『Taiwanese』 are compatriots of the Chinese people and will always be compatriots of the Chinese people because Taiwanese themselves are Chinese. Again, Taiwan is no pawn of China but, 『certain Taiwanese entities』 no doubt are pawns (of sacrificial offerings) of America.
WRONG! WRONG WRONG WR0NG!
In times of desperacy, in times of demands for 『regime changes』. In times 『when HOSTILITY is macerated under the pretense of the UN and everything including no fly zones goes』, every dam, every power plant, every bridge, every hospital, every Nagasaki and every Hiroshima is fair game to the UN forces and, it, the UN, never get charged with war crimes.
By Minuteman’s, Pershing’s, Tomahawks, B-1’s and 2’s, yes and maybe. Maybe maybe. But, by missiles imported by Taiwan? They have as much of a chance of crossing the Taiwan Strait as South Asian Acne-3, 4, and 5’s are of crossing over the Himalayas before it gets smashed by HQ-9’s and other surface to airs thar China had made precautions all along the coast and in China’s far west.
NO! It would an all out trans oceanic nuclear shootout between superpowers. Taiwan is only a "PAWN’, Remember?
The devil china
My Chineses friends, just be careful! This is very disturbing piece of news!!
The author of this article is indeed a person with schizophrenia.
Mon Mah Sounds racist to me!
what the chinese will react after that…..pls stop this nonsense things….that will be the end of the world…..
I’m sorry to say but no matter how strong a country is, size always matter. History will tell all, Japan were once the strongest in Asia and an elite country in the world, surely they are feared. But whenever they test America they almost succeed, but they just pay the price of it. Just like a lion who tries or dares to eat a hippo, just because they think they are king.
Asia Times seem to be perpetually writting articles instigating war n promoting hatred as can be observed by its readers comments. Thank you for good sense.
What kind of strategist will make a suggestion to attack a non-military target which will cause massive damages to civilians? It is unhumanizing and contemptible.
end of humanity because of teritorial dispute.
"When the enemy is in range, so are you".
– from Murphy’s Military Laws
Chong Seechun Diverting attention from Japan.
China is the father, not the enemy. The real enemy is the U.S. in sheep clothing which foolish Taiwanese cannot recognise.
mislead by fake news about dam attack project, Chinese state- run media said sorry to Taiwan’s Scholar ~~ https://tw.appledaily.com/new/realtime/20180117/1280651/
I don’t belive Taiwan can do, if PLA fight back where you can stay, you have only one iland,but China is big.
I support the views of Koh Jek Siew.
Evil Indians
Should deflect the missiles to New Delhi
Electrical generation is a legitimate military target. The Ruhr dams during World War 2 are an example.