Hsiung Feng III missile mishap

On 1 July 2016, a Hsiung Feng III missile was accidentally launched from a Republic of China Navy vessel from waters off Kaohsiung towards Penghu. The missile hit a fishing boat at 8:40 a.m., killing one person and injuring three.[1][2]

Hsiung Feng III missile mishap
雄風三型反艦飛彈誤射事件
Date1 July 2016
Time8:40 a.m.
LocationOff Dongji Island, Wangan Township, Penghu County, Taiwan
ParticipantsTaiwan
Deaths1
Non-fatal injuries3

Chronology

The Chin Chiang PGG-610 (Chinese: 金江號) patrol ship was undergoing a regular simulation training exercise for military equipment on the morning of 1 July (Friday) at Zuoying Naval Base in Zuoying District, Kaohsiung. The missile was accidentally launched at 8:00 a.m. during an inspection at the navy base. The missile cruised around 75 kilometres (47 mi) for two minutes towards mainland China before hitting a Taiwanese fishing boat. The missile did not explode upon impact. The navy sent a helicopter and navy vessels to the area for damage inspection.[3]

The mishap killed the Taiwanese boat's captain and injured its three crew members, from Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam.[3]

The missile did not cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan and mainland China.[4]

An investigation of the incident concluded in August 2016.[5][6] Three ROC naval officers were charged by the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office.[7] The Ministry of Justice announced in November that the family of captain Huang Wen-chung would be paid NT$34.84 million in compensation.[8] The Control Yuan voted against impeachment proceedings for nine naval officers in July 2017.[9] The Kaohsiung District Court issued its first ruling on the case that September, sentencing Petty Officer Second Class Kao Chia-chun to eighteen months imprisonment, Chief Petty Officer Chen Ming-hsiu to 24 months imprisonment, and Lieutenant Junior Grade Hsu Po-wei to fourteen months imprisonment.[10] The Control Yuan held a second vote and began impeachment proceedings against nine naval officers in February 2018.[11] The next month, the Control Yuan advised that communication between the Executive Yuan and Ministry of National Defense be improved.[12] The Kaohsiung bench of the Taiwan High Court reduced Chen Ming-hsiu's sentence to 21 months in June 2018.[13]

Reactions

References
  1. Phippen, J. Weston (1 July 2016). "Taiwan's Deadly Missile Mishap". The Atlantic. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  2. "Taiwan mistakenly fires supersonic missile killing one". BBC News. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  3. Lu, Hsin-hui; Chen, Christie (1 July 2016). "Accidental firing of missile likely due to human error: Navy". Central News Agency. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  4. Ramzy, Austin (2 July 2016). "Taiwan Navy Accidentally Fires Antiship Missile, Killing Fisherman". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  5. Chen, Wei-han (30 August 2016). "MND explains cause of missile incident". Taipei Times. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  6. Lu, Hsin-hui; Liu, Kay (29 August 2016). "Poor discipline blamed for Navy's July missile accident". Central News Agency. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  7. Chang, Che-fon; Liu, Kay (29 August 2016). "Prosecutors find negligence in Navy's mistaken missile launch". Central News Agency. Retrieved 30 August 2016.
  8. Chu, Che-wei and; Wu, Lilian (17 November 2016). "Family of fisherman killed by Navy missile receives compensation". Central News Agency. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  9. Pan, Jason (24 February 2018). "Officers censured over missile gaffe that killed captain". Taipei Times. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  10. "Three jailed for deadly missile blunder". Taipei Times. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  11. Hsieh, Chia-jen; Liu, Kuan-lin (23 February 2018). "Control Yuan passes motion to impeach officers for missile firing". Central News Agency. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  12. Shih, Hsiao-kung; Chung, Jake (24 March 2018). "Control Yuan slams defense ministry over missile gaffe". Taipei Times. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  13. Chen, Chao-fu; Wang, Flora (7 June 2018). "Officer receives reduced sentence in accidental missile launch appeal". Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  14. 马驰 (1 July 2016). "Mainland urges Taiwan to explain missile misfire". Chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
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