Part of Taiwan advanced missile system sent to China for repairs

Ryan King

January 04, 01:39 PM January 04, 01:40 PM

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A key component of one of Taiwan’s advanced anti-ship missile systems was sent to China for repairs, the island’s top military research unit confirmed Wednesday.

Officials downplayed concerns about military data leaks to China from the repair, noting that the component sent was an optical instrument used for launch measurements and that the memory cards had been removed from the device before it was shipped, the BBC reported. Nevertheless, officials raised concerns over the island’s military contract management following the mishap.

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“Taiwan must be more strict and careful in its contract management,” said Dr. Su Tzu-yun from Taiwan’s Institute of Defence Security Research, per the BBC. “Of course, we would not want such equipment to be sent to China for repair.”

The optical instrument, a theodolite from the Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile, had been sent to Switzerland to its original supplier for repairs, but the manufacturer then shipped it to its facility in the Chinese city of Qingdao, per the report. The theodolite is used to measure angles and geographical locations for missile launchers.

Su indicated that the supplier of the theodolite may not have been aware that the device was being used for the missile system.

Relations between China and Taiwan are tense as Beijing claims sovereignty over the island of about 24 million people, while Taiwan self-governs and claims independence. Taiwan has been building up its military and recently extended its mandatory military service requirement to counter the threat from China.

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China has stepped up its aggression toward Taiwan in recent months, including with increased aircraft incursions in the air defense zone around the island.

Taiwan’s missile program has previously run into concerns about sourcing from China. Last year, multiple people at two Taiwanese suppliers were hit with prison sentences for sourcing products from China that had been claimed to have come from companies in the United States, the BBC reported.