2 missiles miss target during Taiwan live-fire drillJuly 9, 2012 - 21:25 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Two of 26 missiles missed their targets when Taiwan's military carried out a live-fire exercise Monday, but officers in charge said they were happy with the result, AFP reports. More than 2,300 soldiers were mobilised in the drill held in Chiupeng, a tightly-guarded missile base facing the Pacific Ocean in Pingtung county in the island's south. The two missiles that missed their targets were a Hsiungfeng II (Brave Wind II) - an improved version of the Hsiungfeng ship-to-ship missile - and a Tien Chien I (Sky Sword I) surface-to-air missile, both of which were locally developed and manufactured. A drone, supposed to serve as a missile target during the exercise, went out of control minutes after it was launched and fell to earth near to a house. No one was wounded in the incident, the military said. Twenty-four other missiles, launched from aircraft, vessels and ground batteries, destroyed their targets in the drill, which was presided over by General Lin Chen-yi, chief of staff of the island's armed forces. "General Lin is satisfied with the outcome of the maneuver," a military officer told reporters. Previous drills have been less successful. In an embarrassing flop in 2011 six out of 19 missiles missed their targets or failed to explode during a live-fire missile test attended by the press. Monday's maneuver is likely to have been watched carefully by China's People's Liberation Army, which currently has more than 1,600 missiles aimed at the island, according to estimates by Taiwanese experts. Tensions between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland have eased markedly since Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang party was elected the island's president in 2008 on a platform of beefing up trade and tourism links. Nevertheless, China still refuses to renounce the use of force against Taiwan should it declare formal independence, even though the island has governed itself since the end of a civil war in 1949. The lingering threats have prompted Taiwanese authorities to stockpile thousands of missiles, which it has either purchased from the United States or manufactured itself. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |