TAIPE: Taiwan is set to produce 50 medium-range missiles next year that will target military bases in southeast China, a media report said yesterday. The report came after former defence minister Michael Tsai revealed in a recently published book that the island created medium-range guided missiles that could be used against China back in 2008. The Yun Feng (Cloud Peak) missile has been developed by the state-run Chung-shan Institute of Science and Technology and each has a range of over 1,000km (620 miles), said the Taipei-based China Times.
UN call to speed up Rouge trial
PHNOM PENH: Donors, rights groups and the UN yesterday urged Cambodia’s war crimes court to speed up the trial of the remaining two Khmer Rouge leaders accused of genocide after the death of an elderly suspect. Regime co-founder Ieng Sary, 87, died in hospital on Thursday, escaping judgment for his alleged role in the atrocities. The two remaining defendants, Nuon Chea and former head of state Khieu Samphan are in their eighties.
Officials admit
ship radar lock
TOKYO: Senior Chinese military officials have admitted for the first time that a frigate locked its radar on a Japanese destroyer during the two nations’ row over disputed islands, Kyodo News reported yesterday. In one of the more serious incidents in an escalating wrangle over ownership of the islands in the East China Sea, Tokyo said the Chinese vessel effectively had a Japanese ship in its sights earlier this year.
Six-nation talks on security set
MANILA: Officials from six countries will join the maritime security discussions alongside the Balikatan exercises between Filipino and US troops next month. Armed Forces spokesman Col Arnulfo Burgos Jr said representatives from Australia, Brunei, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand will join US and Filipino officials in the Multinational Maritime Security Roundtable. Balikatan 2013 will be held from April 5 to 17.
Australia eases Myanmar curbs
CANBERRA: President Thein Sein yesterday became Myanmar’s first head of state to visit Australia since 1974, winning aid and defence concessions. After his talks with Prime Minister Julia Gillard, officials said arms embargo would remain, but announced an easing of restrictions on defence cooperation, including humanitarian and disaster relief activities and peacekeeping.
US troops suspended
SEOUL: Thousands of US troops in South Korea have been suspended, following violent incidents, the US military said yesterday. Three- and four-day weekend passes have also been cancelled, Eighth Army spokesman Colonel Andrew Mutter said. “We are taking deliberate measures and actions to address all acts of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour.” Earlier this month, a US soldier was shot and injured by South Korean police after a high-speed car chase through Seoul, after he and other servicemen had allegedly fired a BB gun at passers-by. Agencies
