Taiwan to buy anti-missile systems from US

TAIPEI, Jan 29: Taiwan is to buy advanced anti-missile systems from the United States to beef up its air defence in the face of Chinese military threats, a Taiwanese daily said today, reports AFP.

The government will submit a proposal to the parliament next month for buying three batteries of Patriot systems and several Aegis guided missile destroyers from Washington, the Chinese-language China Times said.

The new anti-missile systems would be deployed in central and southern Taiwan, the newspaper said.

In 1993, Washington sold 200 improved versions of the Patriot missiles (PAC-II Plus) and other facilities to Taiwan despite strong protests from China.

Chen Pi-chao, advisor to the National Security Council, has said the United States had agreed to sell to Taiwan four Aegis class destroyers which are capable of blocking any missile launched from China.

The 8,000-tonne Aegis destroyer now serving in the US navy is known for its ability to track ballistic missiles and could be used as seaborne platform for anti-missile systems.

China is expected to increase its deployment of M9 ballistic missiles to 900 in 2010 together with additional M11 and cruise missiles, according to Chen. Taiwan has a weak missile defense capability, he added.

Taiwan broke away from the mainland in 1949 after losing to the communists in a civil war and China has repeatedly said it would retake the nationalist island by force if necessary.

Washington has remained the leading arms supplier to Taipei despite switching recognition to Beijing in 1979.