- Associated Press
- Taiwan’s indigenous Hsiung Feng III missile is propped against the backdrop of a billboard depicting a missile-riddled aircraft carrier, closely resembling China’s carrier “Varyag,” during a media preview of the Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology show in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2011.
- Reuters
- A vessel reported to be the Ukrainian-made aircraft carrier “Varyag,” which China bought in the 1990s, is seen at a port in Dalian, Liaoning province in this April 17, 2011 file photo.
On the day China began sea trials of its first aircraft carrier, Taiwan made what can only be described as a provocative move, displaying its newest anti-ship cruise missile in front of an illustration of what appeared to be China’s new carrier being hit by missiles.
Above the missile, known as the Hsiung Feng III, was a sign that labeled the weapon an “aircraft carrier killer.”
The missile was being displayed as part of a preview ahead of the annual Taipei Aerospace and Defense Technology Exhibition. Though there were no markings to indicate the carrier in the background illustration was Chinese, the ship featured a sloped runway similar to that of the Varyag – the Ukrainian carrier whose empty hull was used in the building of the new Chinese carrier, which has yet to be named.
Although the Hsiung Feng III has been discussed as a potential deterrent to China’s ships and aircraft carriers, it has never been explicitly described as an anti-carrier weapon.
Nonetheless experts played down the seemingly goading presentation of the missile, arguing that China is unlikely to see the missile as much of a threat.
Former Deputy Defense Minister Chong Pin Lin told China Real Time he thought the display was more geared to a Taiwanese audience as the growing military imbalance between China and Taiwan has become an growing concern in Taiwan. China’s military might has increased by leaps and bounds over the past twenty years as it has ramped up spending. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s president Ma Ying-jeou has recently come under fire for allowing defense spending to slip below 3% of GDP.
“This is likely for domestic consumption, it doesn’t mean anything to Beijing,” Mr. Lin said. “In fact, Beijing might like to see this because they want to see [president] Ma get re elected….and this tells our voters that the Ma administration is not being lax on defense.”
He also said that he did not foresee China utilizing its aircraft carriers to threaten Taiwan, as placing a carrier group in the Pacific or South China Sea would be too provocative.
Many analysts argue otherwise, pointing out that China has grown increasingly vocal in its territorial claims in the region and said its new defensive capabilities were being developed to help it enforce its claims. In a potential conflict with Taiwan, some analysts have argued, a carrier group would help keep the U.S. from intervening and could add to China’s ability to threaten a key Taiwan airbase on the island’s east coast at Hualien, where many of its F-16s are stationed.
It would be hard to deny the potential affect of a growing Chinese navy on the balance of power in the region and the resulting concern, but the hawkish display seems out of place given the historic thaw in cross-Strait ties that Mr. Ma has presided over in recent years.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday that it had no immediate comment but would issue a statement about the display on Thursday.
Regardless of whether the display was intended as a warning, it at least shows Taiwan is willing to challenge China in creating belligerent defense fair booths. Although not as technologically advanced as a Chinese display at the 2010 Zhuhai Air Show that showed unmanned aerial vehicles taking out a U.S. carrier, the vision of the missile suspended in front of an exploding aircraft carrier certainly makes an impact.
– Paul Mozur. Follow him on Twitter @paulmozur
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