April 2,
2008: Taiwan now believes that China has
over 1,400 ballistic missiles aimed at them. That's up from 200 in 2000, and
800 four years ago. Most of these are Dong Feng DF-11 and DF-15 models. The
DF11 (also known as the M11) has a range of 300 kilometers and carries a one
ton warhead. The DF15 (M9) has a range of 600 kilometers and carries a half ton
warhead. There are also over a thousand Chinese warplanes and over 100,000
troops (including several brigades of paratroopers) available for an attack on
the island. The missiles would use high explosive or cluster bomb warheads, and
would basically be bombs that could not be stopped. Well, that's not exactly
the case. Taiwan is investing in an anti-missile system that would negate a
large number of the Chinese missiles.
If used,
perhaps 75 percent of the missiles would actually hit their target (the others
would suffer failures in propulsion or guidance systems.) Each missile is the
equivalent of a half ton or one ton aircraft bomb. But currently, the missiles
have primitive guidance systems, meaning that the warheads will usually hit up
to 500 meters from the target. The Chinese are believed to be equipping the
missiles with GPS, although the Taiwanese can jam this. Guidance systems that
are more difficult to jam are in the works, as this technology has been much
sought after by Chinese spies in the United States over the last few years.
