Taiwan’s mysterious extended-range missile poses limited threat to Chinese mainland, military magazine says

The Hsiung Sheng cruise missile is a key retaliatory component in Taiwan’s arsenal, intended to reach deep into the mainland

But the weapon’s size, speed and lack of stealth technology make it vulnerable to detection, article in mainland magazine says

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An article in a mainland Chinese military magazine says a key cruise missile in Taiwan’s arsenal has limited capabilities and is likely to be less precise and more prone to interference. Photo: Military News Agency

Published: 10:00am, 31 Dec 2023Updated: 3:44pm, 31 Dec 2023

The threat posed by an advanced Taiwanese missile that could strike mainland China is limited, according to an article in a major Chinese military magazine.

The weapon, an extended-range variant of the Hsiung Feng IIE missile, can strike eastern, southern and central mainland China. But an article in the late November issue of Ordinance Industry Science Technology said the weapon’s relatively large size, subsonic speed and lack of stealth technology made it vulnerable to detection.

The land attack cruise missile variant, named Hsiung Sheng, has a reported range of up to 1,200km (746 miles) and is a key component of Taiwan’s arsenal that would allow its military to attack deeper into mainland China.

The missile “can be easily detected, tracked, monitored by modern, sensitive and precise anti-air radar systems”, the article said.

It also claimed the Taiwanese military had limited abilities in reconnaissance and midcourse missile guidance, which would make the Hsiung Sheng less precise and more prone to interference.

Beijing, which considers Taiwan a province that must be reunited with mainland China, has never renounced the use of force to take the self-ruled island. Most countries do not see Taiwan as an independent state, but many, including the United States, oppose any attempt by Beijing to take it by force.

Taiwan’s mysterious extended-range missile poses limited threat to Chinese mainland, military magazine says

The Hsiung Sheng cruise missile is a key retaliatory component in Taiwan’s arsenal, intended to reach deep into the mainland But the weapon’s size, speed and lack of stealth technology make it vulnerable to detection, article in mainland magazine says

The Hsiung Sheng cruise missile is a key retaliatory component in Taiwan’s arsenal, intended to reach deep into the mainland

But the weapon’s size, speed and lack of stealth technology make it vulnerable to detection, article in mainland magazine says