China fires another missile

Tense U.S. monitors war games off Taiwan

March 12, 1996
Web posted at: 9:30 p.m. EST (0230 GMT)

CNN Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre

TAIPEI, Taiwan (CNN) -- Pentagon sources said China fired a fourth missile Wednesday in the Strait of Taiwan. The White House called the continued test-firings "reckless" and stood ready for possible action should a missile go awry.

Sources said the latest missile landed in the South China Sea off the southern port of Kaohsiung between 5 and 6 p.m. EST. The type of missile was believed to be an M-9 with a dummy warhead.

China fired three unarmed missiles on Friday, and Tuesday began what it's calling "live fire" air and naval exercises. The SCUD-like M-9s came close to Taiwan's key seaports.

White House spokesman James Fetig said the United States is "deeply disturbed by this provocative act."

"We continue to believe that these tests are reckless and increase tensions in the Taiwan Straits," Fetig said in a statement Wednesday.

"We have previously put China on notice that it will be held responsible for any actions that occur during these tests. We continue to urge both China and Taiwan to exercise caution and restraint," he said.

China has acknowledged that the exercises are intended to sway Taiwan away from pursuing independence.

U.S. worried about errors

U.S. military and intelligence sources say the first day of the exercises amounted to roughly 15 to 20 ships and a few dozen planes firing shells and other ammunition at targets.

The Pentagon said the maneuvers -- in a 60- by 90-mile zone -- are similar to exercises conducted in August, and have caused only minor disruption to shipping and air traffic in the Taiwan Strait.

But as the exercises progress, U.S. officials are starting to worry.

Wednesday's resumption of missile fire was the most dramatic of the maneuvers and an impressive show of force.

"I think that the Chinese have achieved their objective in displaying a missile with a high degree of accuracy and one that is very hard to neutralize," said Sen. Frank Murkowski, R-Alaska.

State Department spokesman Glyn Davies said that there is an increased likelihood that things could go wrong -- and quickly.

"Ordinance can go astray. There's shipping in that area, very important commercial shipping. There are 21 million people on the island of Taiwan. We're very concerned, obviously, that there be no accidents," he said.

Washington has warned of "grave consequences" in the case of an accident, and is assembling an armada of a dozen U.S. warships, including two U.S. aircraft carriers in the waters near Taiwan.

"We're operating in international waters, conducting normal training, some 200 miles east of Taiwan, so we've not been directly observing those operations," said Rear Adm. James Ellis, aboard the USS Independence.

But sources said the U.S. message to China is clear: don't overplay your hand. For Taiwan, too, there is a message: The U.S. will back you -- to a point.

U.S. tells Taiwan's president: Cool it

Sources said U.S. diplomats are telling Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui, who is seen by China as seeking independence, to cool it.

"There have been signs from Mr. Lee, particularly in recent days -- despite the fact that he is in a political campaign -- that he is not for independence, that he wishes for reunification, albeit at a very gradual pace, and that he's ready to try to resume dialog with Beijing," said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Winston Lord.

Sources said that behind the gunboats is some quiet diplomacy aimed at convincing China that its actions are counter-productive and that Taiwan too, could be less provocative.

Beijing has said it will continue the tests until March 15.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related Stories

• Ships of the U.S. Taiwan deployment - Mar. 13, 1996
• Background: Taiwan a refuge for dissidents - Mar. 7, 1996
• Pentagon: China fires another missile - Mar. 12, 1996
• U.S. sends more ships toward Taiwan - Mar. 11, 1996
• Nations condemn Chinese missile tests - March 8, 1996
• Taiwan president walks thin line - Feb. 23, 1996

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