Dear kenth-ga;
Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to answer your interesting question.
According to Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian himself, as recently
as December 2, 2003, China had 469 ?KNOWN? ballistic missiles aimed at
Taiwan that were stationed within a 600km firing distance and well
capable of reaching their targets.
?Pinpointing the numbers of missiles, Chen said China had deployed 96
missiles each in Leping and Ganxian of Jiangxi Province, Meizhou of
Guangdong Province, as well as 144 in Yongan and 64 in Xianyou of
Fujian Province.?
TIAPEI TIMES
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/12/02/2003078033
It appears that the types of weapons China currently has aimed at
Taiwan are of the DF-11 and DF-15 class short range ballistic
missiles:
?China has six types of operational land based nuclear-capable
ballistic missiles, the DF-3A, DF-4, DF-5/5A, DF-11, DF-15, and the
DF-21/21X. China flight tested the DF-31 in August 1999, but it is
unknown if it has been deployed.?
?DF-11 Short Range - Targets along China's border, including Taiwan?
?DF-15 Short Range - Targets along China's border, including Taiwan.
Used in missile exercises off the Taiwan coast in 1996.?
A great deal more can be learned of China missile programs, arsenal
and capabilities using this source (the source of the data above):
NUCLEAR THREAT INITIATIVE - CHINA
http://www.nti.org/db/china/wbmdat.htm
In addition to, or perhaps inclusive, are the missiles believed to
have previously been deployed and aimed at Taiwan, as well as the ones
believed to have been earmarked for future deployment:
?In 1999, a leaked Pentagon report revealed China has stationed 150 to
200 M-9 and M-11 missiles in its southern regions aimed at Taiwan
(since 1996). The weapons build-up leak coincided with increasing
Chinese warnings that America and Japan must not include Taiwan in a
proposed Star Wars-style missile defense shield unless they wish to
trigger a regional arms race. Contingent of U.S. resolve on
development and deployment, Taiwan is said to be eager to join and
help finance the multibillion-dollar system. As an initial response to
this emerging threat, Taiwan purchased the Modified Air Defense System
(MADS), an improved variant of the PATRIOT surface-to-air missile
(SAM) system. The MADS, which began arriving on Taiwan in 1997, was
expected to be deployed around heavily populated Taipei. Exclusive
reliance this missile defense system alone will not sufficiently
offset the overwhelming advantage in offensive missiles that Beijing
is projected to possess by 2005. China?s goal is to have 500-650
short-range ballistic missiles within range of Taiwan by 2005.?
VIRTUAL INFORMATION CENTER
?Special Report: China's Missile Threat to Taiwan?
http://www.vic-info.org/RegionsTop.nsf/0/efee298a7b54fc2d8a2569bc0080ae67?OpenDocument&Click=
On this same page you will also find a number of informative links
describing the various ballistic missile programs in the region and
the potential threat that exists there. Here are only two examples of
the many links provided:
CENTER FOR DEFENSE AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES (CDISS)
http://www.cdiss.org/chinab.htm
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE REPORTS
http://www.fas.org/spp/starwars/crs/94-422s.htm
Below you will find that I have carefully defined my search strategy
for you in the event that you need to search for more information. By
following the same type of searches that I did you may be able to
enhance the research I have provided even further. I hope you find
that that my research exceeds your expectations. If you have any
questions about my research please post a clarification request prior
to rating the answer. Otherwise, I welcome your rating and your final
comments and I look forward to working with you again in the near
future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.
Best regards;
Tutuzdad ? Google Answers Researcher
INFORMATION SOURCES
Defined above
SEARCH STRATEGY
SEARCH ENGINE USED:
Google ://www.google.com
SEARCH TERMS USED:
TAIWAN MISSILE CHINA
TYPES ?MISSILES AIMED AT TAIWAN?
CHINA BALLISTIC REGION TAIWAN
MISSILE CLASS TAIWAN CHINA |
