TAIPEI: Taiwan’s defence ministry said Tuesday it was developing an unmanned surveillance aircraft, showing that the island’s arms race with China has not ended despite improving ties.
Yu Sy-tue, spokesman for defence minister Kao Hua-chu, told AFP that the island’s military-run Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology near Taipei has started research on drones, without elaborating.
Kao denied reports that Taiwan has made it a top priority to acquire Global Hawk, a high-altitude drone, along with new fighter jets from Washington, the spokesman added.
Drones, which are remotely piloted and perform reconnaissance as well as attack missions, are seen as a potential replacement for the venerable U-2 spy plane. China’s military already uses such unmanned aircraft.
Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou stressed over the weekend that the island will keep buying arms from Washington as it cannot rely solely on improving ties with China to ensure its security.
At the top of Taiwan’s wish-list are F-16 C/D fighter jets to replace its ageing fleet of F-5s, as China rapidly builds up its military capability.
Ma was elected in 2008 on a promise to improve Taiwan’s economy, mainly by stepping up exchanges with China.
During his time in power, ties between Taiwan and China have improved markedly, but China still refuses to renounce the possibility of using force should the island declare independence.
A sale of F-16 C/Ds to Taiwan would be certain to trigger the ire of Beijing, which reacted furiously when the United States in January announced a a 6.4-billion-dollar arms package for the self-governing island.
