Taiwan’s navy on Friday mistakenly fired a supersonic anti-ship missile, although there were no injuries caused by the mishap, the official Central News Agency reported.
The 500-ton patrol boat Chinchiang was undergoing an inspection inside a military base when the missile — a Hsiung Feng III — was fired off and landed about 40 nautical miles (46 miles) away in waters off the islands of Penghu near Taiwan, the agency said.
The French news agency AFP said Taiwanese naval officials had confirmed the splash-down off the Penghu islands, which sit between Taiwan and China.
You've reached your daily free article limit.
Subscribe and support our veteran writing staff to continue reading.
Taiwan’s navy on Friday mistakenly fired a supersonic anti-ship missile, although there were no injuries caused by the mishap, the official Central News Agency reported.
The 500-ton patrol boat Chinchiang was undergoing an inspection inside a military base when the missile — a Hsiung Feng III — was fired off and landed about 40 nautical miles (46 miles) away in waters off the islands of Penghu near Taiwan, the agency said.
The French news agency AFP said Taiwanese naval officials had confirmed the splash-down off the Penghu islands, which sit between Taiwan and China.
AFP quoted Vice Admiral Mei Chia-shu as saying the Navy‘s “initial investigation found that the operation was not done in accordance with normal procedure.”
The mishap coincided with celebrations in China to mark the 95th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Communist Party. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also the party’s top leader, delivered a speech Friday calling for peaceful development of relations between Beijing and Taipei.
A full investigation was under way, while the navy has sent a helicopter and boats to search for the missile, the report said.
China’s stance is that Taiwan continues to be Chinese territory, in spite of the fact that it has self-ruled since 1949, following a civil war. Relations between the Asian giant and its tiny, U.S.-backed neighbor have deteriorated since January, when theTaiwanese elected a new, China-skeptic leader.
Read More: CBS
Featured Image – DVIDS
Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis.
TRY 14 DAYS FREEAlready a subscriber? Log In
COMMENTS
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.