PUBLISHED : Friday, 01 July, 2016, Lawrence Chung
The Taiwanese navy on Friday mistakenly fired a missile as mainland China celebrated the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party.
The “accidental launch” of the Hsiung Feng III supersonic anti-ship missile from a naval base in Kaohsiung, south of the island, happened as Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, also commander-in-chief of the armed forces, was overseas.
“[The missile] was launched by operational error. We are investigating the case,” said Vice-Admiral Mei Chia-hsu.
Asked if the incident risked a misunderstanding with Beijing, Mei said the navy had reported the incident to the island’s defence ministry, which would handle the case accordingly.
The Taiwanese navy holds a press conference over the accidental launch of the missile on Friday. Photo: CNA
The missile did not pass the mid-course line of the Taiwan Strait, Mei said, which meant it was not aimed Fujian province, which lies on the other side of the strait.
The missile, launched from the Kaohsiung’s Zuoying naval base, landed at waters off the islands of Penghu, the vice-admiral added.
Mei said the Chinchiang (PCG-610) patrol ship was undergoing a drill inspection when officers failed to follow standard operating procedures and launched the missile by mistake.
“It did not cause any injury,” Mei told a news conference after the navy headquarters clarified that the launch was accidental.
The Hsiung Feng III, whose range of about 300km can reach mainland China, is one of Taiwan’s missiles developed to counter Beijing, which has threatened to attack the island should it declare independence.
Beijing still considers Taiwan part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary.