Report: Taiwan promises not to use cruise missile against China

Taiwan has promised the United States that it would not use a cruise missile that it is developing against China, a newspaper reported Friday.    According to the China Times, US State Department and Pentagon officials attending the US-Taiwan defence conference held in the United States in September expressed grave concern about the purpose of Taiwan's Hsiung Feng (Brave Wind) 2E cruise missile.    Taiwan officials briefed the American officials on the weapon and promised that Taiwan would not use it against China, the daily quoted an unnamed official as saying. Taiwan first hinted it might have strike capability against China in 2004 when former premier Yu Shyi-kun warned that if Taiwan was attacked by China, Taiwan would fire missiles against Shanghai. On Tuesday, Defence Minister Lee Tien-yu admitted Taiwan was developing the Hsing Feng 2E, which is reportedly near completion, while saying that it would not be displayed during Wednesday's National Day military parade.    Press reports said Taiwan had tested the missile on February 2 but hoped to extend its range from 600 kilometres to 1,000kms so it could strike China's coastal cities like Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.    China is closely watching the Hsiung Feng 2E project. Last month, Shanghai held an air raid drill, the largest since 1949 when the Chinese Communists won the Chinese Civil War, forcing the Nationalists to flee to Taiwan to set up a government-in-exile.    Taiwan and China have been split since then. China, which sees Taiwan as its breakaway province, has threatened to attack Taiwan if Taipei declares independence or indefinitely delays reunification talks with Beijing.    Cross-strait tensions have escalated in recent months as President Chen Shui-bian plans to hold a spring referendum to show Taiwan's determination to join the United Nations, seen by China as another step toward independence. dpa dc ls