There are suspicions that classified information regarding Taiwan's Air Defense Missile Command's Sky Bow surface-to-air missiles may have already been sold to mainland China due to a scandal over the purchase of a high temperature atmosphere furnace used to design the nozzles for the missile, the Taipei-based Storm Media reported on July 12.
Chen Yi-hsin, a technical specialist from the state-run Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (CSIST), was found to have demanded bribes of US$116,600 from the producer of the high temperature atmosphere furnace. The institute had earmarked US$1.7 million for the furnace; however, it then came to light that Chen had a background of working in mainland China before he was hired by the institute.
As the Sky Bow III, the third generation of the missile family was designed to intercept PLA tactical ballistic missiles, stealth aircraft and cruise missiles, it is possible that Chen sold classified information regarding the missiles to Beijing. Chen served with the CSIST for four years during his mandatory military service before he moved to mainland China.
After working in the mainland for several years, Chen was hired by the institute again as technical specialist. It is still unknown why the CSIST, a government organization under the Ministry of Defense, would hire someone who has a background of working in the mainland to deal with these crucial components to develop an advanced missile system for Taiwan, and Storm Media speculated that the institute may have been compromised by a spy ring on the inside.
Wantchina
No comments:
Post a Comment