Unsupervised missile practice caused deadly Taiwan misfire: Prosecutors

TAIPEI — An unsupervised Taiwanese naval officer who decided to experiment with a missile launcher and accidentally fired towards China was one of three people chargedon Monday (Aug 29) over the fatal incident.

The misfiring of the supersonic “aircraft carrier killer” last month struck a damaging blow to the Taiwanese military’s image, embarrassing President Tsai Ing-wen and angering Beijing.

The Hsiung-feng III (Brave wind) missile hit a Taiwanese trawler, killing the skipper on board and injuring three other crew members. 

The misfire — the biggest military slip-up since Beijing-sceptic Ms Tsai came to power in May — sparked an uproar in Taiwan and drew a stern rebuke from China. 

Prosecutors in the southern port city of Kaoshiung revealed on Monday that naval officer Kao Chia-chun had been left alone in the master control room for as long as seven minutes.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Kao decided to practise without a supervisor, despite the system being in “combat mode”, prosecutors said in a statement marking the end of their investigation. 

“(He) did not ultimately notice that missiles No 3 and No 4 were already in ‘live-fire’ mode and went on to press ... ‘allow launch’, ‘launch missile’, and ‘confirm’,” prosecutors stated.

One of the missiles travelled for about two minutes, automatically searching for a target before locking onto the fishing boat in the waters off Taiwan-administered Penghu island. 

Kao was charged with negligence leading to death and injuries, as well as damaging weaponry. 

If found guilty, Kao could be sent to prison for up to five years, according to Article 276 of the Criminal Code.

His supervisor, Chief Petty Officer Chen Ming-hsiu, and Lieutenant Hsu Po-wei, who was responsible for overseeing weapons, were charged with neglecting official public duties leading to catastrophe. 

Chen should have been supervising but left Kao alone during the incident on July 1, the statement said.

If found guilty, Chen and Hsu may be sentenced to a prison term of three to 10 years, according to Article 130 of the Criminal Code.

Ms Tsai last week called for the defence ministry to hammer out a new strategy and improve its performance, while attending an annual military exercise simulating China attacks. 

The mainland is the biggest military threat to self-ruling Taiwan, which Beijing sees as a breakaway province to be reunified. Tensions have risen across the strait under Ms Tsai as Beijing does not trust her traditionally pro-independence party. 

The President is battling falling popularity and increased pressure from Beijing as she crossed 100 days in office over the weekend marred by controversy.

Since she took the helm in May, Ms Tsai has been faced with a litany of challenges, from the accidental firing of the missile, to labour protests and rows over personnel appointments.

The public support that swept Ms Tsai into power by a landslide is now wavering. 

Her support ratings have fallen to about 50 per cent in recent surveys, from highs of 70 per cent.

According to Taiwan’s defence ministry, there are 1,500 Chinese missiles aimed at the island. 

China launched some of the missiles into waters off Taiwan in 1995 and 1996 in an attempt to deter voters in the island’s first democratic presidential elections.

Last month’s misfire coincided with China celebrating the 95th anniversary of the Communist Party. AGENCIES