The shipment did not include nuclear materials, but the error is particularly sensitive because China vehemently opposes US arms sales to Taiwan. Four of the cone-shaped fuses were shipped to Taiwanese officials in late 2006 instead of helicopter batteries that they had ordered. The Taiwanese defence ministry said it had discovered the mistaken transfer of components shortly after their arrival here in 2006 and quickly notified US authorities, but the error was only verified this week.
“After both sides confirmed the shipment had been a mistake, the components were transferred on Tuesday (Taipei time) to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT),” or the de facto US embassy in Taipei, the ministry said.
China concerned
China on Wednesday expressed “grave concern” over the revelation and demanded a thorough probe into the incident.
“We express our serious concern and strong dissatisfaction and demand the US side investigate this incident,” foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement. “We urge the US to cease selling military hardware to Taiwan and end US-Taiwan military ties, or risk harming stability in the Taiwan Strait and the healthy and stable development of China-US ties,” Gang said.
Taiwan is developing its first cruise missile, the Hsiung-feng 2E, which analysts say has a range of at least 600 kilometres and could be launched on land or at sea. That could bring airports and missile bases and cities such as Shanghai and Hong Kong, within striking distance.