Taiwan president urges faster mass production of missiles

Taipei, Jan. 25 (CNA) President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has called on a key defense technology institute to lay a solid foundation for Taiwan's defense industry in the coming 50 years and expedite mass production of two models of sophisticated missiles.

"The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology (國家中山科學研究院, NCSIST) must accelerate mass production of the ATBM（Anti-Tactical Ballistic Missile) and the Hsiung Feng III Anti-Ship Missile," Tsai said Friday in a speech after being briefed by NCSIST personnel on the missile program.

NCSIST is celebrating its 50th founding anniversary this year.

Praising the two missiles developed by NCSIST as the "pride of Taiwan," Tsai asked NCSIST Chairman Yen De-fa (嚴德發) and Vice Defense Minister Chang Kuan-chun (張冠群) to develop a plan that will pave the way for the sound development of the local defense industry over the next 50 years.

To serve that end, three goals must be achieved, Tsai said. Apart from speeding up mass production of the two missiles, she said, the NCSIST must focus on building a talent pool to replenish its manpower and step up partnerships between academia, industry and government at home and abroad.

Only by doing so can the NCSIST reach its objectives and help upgrade and strengthen Taiwan's defense industry to a level similar to that of other democratic countries such as the United States, she said.