Taiwan Missile Misfires, Puts Supersonic Hole in Fishing Boat

The Taiwan Navy fired a supersonic missile in error that pierced a fishing boat without exploding and killed a crewman on Friday, reported Reuters.

The ship-to-air missile was misfired from a 500-ton navy patrol vessel during pre-inspection in southern Taiwan ahead of a mock exercise, Taiwan's Navy Chief of Staff Mei Chia-shu told reporters.

The accident happened in waters separating the island from diplomatic rival China, as Communist Party rulers in Beijing celebrated the party's 95th birthday.

"That this is politically motivated, or this is to create crisis in the surrounding situation, this is not the case," Taiwan Defence Ministry spokesman Chen Chung-chi told reporters.

Initial findings indicate the missile sank into the sea after going through the Tiwanese fishing boat.

China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's forces won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists fled to the island.

Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary.

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said it had not detected irregular movements by China's military after the accident.

The incident came as Chinese President Xi Jinping warned on Friday that the biggest threat to the ruling Communist Party is corruption, as he used the party's birthday to also warn against any moves in Taiwan towards independence.

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