Policy

Due to its international status, Taiwan cannot accede to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

In July 2008, the Ministry of National Defense stated that Taiwan could only ban cluster munitions if the Convention on Cluster Munitions gains universal support in the future and all countries ban their use. It said that Taiwan possesses cluster munitions as a measure against the military threat from China, which has not joined the convention. It also said Taiwan needs cluster munitions to attack enemy ships and landing craft in waters close to Taiwan, and to attack enemy airfields.[1]

In September 2011, the Research Bureau of the Legislative Yuan (Parliament) submitted a recommendation that cluster munitions be included in Taiwan’s Antipersonnel Landmines Regulations Act and proposed that the Ministry of National Defense destroy Taiwan’s stockpile of cluster munitions within eight years, which is the time period required by the Convention on Cluster Munitions.[2] The Ministry of National Defense opposed the recommendation and a spokesperson said, “Taiwan has to possess and stockpile cluster munitions to counter the military threat from China.”[3]

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

Taiwan has never used cluster munitions but it possesses a stockpile, has imported cluster munitions, and produces cluster munitions. It is not known if Taiwan has ever exported cluster weapons.

Taiwan produces two types of cluster munitions: the RT2000 multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) and the Wan-Jian missile.[4] The RT2000 MLRS fires unguided surface-to-surface rockets that can utilize either cluster warheads or unitary high explosive warheads. The submunition in the three rocket types available for the launch system is reported to be the M77 dual-purpose improved conventional munition (DPICM).[5] In 2013, a media report stated that the RT2000 MLRS were used during military maneuvers.[6]

The Wan-Jian is an air-launched missile containing 100–120 submunitions, with its own inertial navigation system and a range of 600km.[7] According to Taiwan’s National Defense Budget, the Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology has spent nearly TWD3 billion (US$103.5 million) on the Wan-Jian missile project; the missile had passed initial operational testing and evaluation by the Air Force in the first half of 2010; and indigenous fighter aircraft will be equipped with the Wan-Jian weapon system in the future.[8] In 2013, the Ministry of National Defense reported to the Legislative Yuan that the Wan-Jian missile was ready for its production[9] and would be deployed in 2014.[10] In March 2012, a Ministry of National Defense spokesperson informed the Monitor that Taiwan has no plan to transfer or sell the research and technology of the Wan-Jian missile to other countries.[11] In June 2013, an officer at the Ministry of National Defense informed the Monitor that the weapon would not be used against civilian targets in time of war.[12] Wan-Jian is scheduled to be produced in Taiwan in 2015.[13]

It has been reported that the Ministry of National Defense started to conduct research on production of cluster munitions in the late 1990s and began fielding systems in 2006.[14] The Military News Agency reported that Taiwan used cluster munitions in military training maneuvers in 2006 and 2007.[15]

In September 2011, the United States (US) Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible sale to Taiwan of 64 CBU-105 Sensor Fused Weapons.[16] As of 1 July 2013, the sale had not been finalized.[17]

Taiwan has imported a large number of air-delivered cluster bombs from the US. According to a standard reference work, Taiwan possesses US-made CBU-24, CBU-49, CBU-52, CBU-58, CBU-71, and Rockeye cluster bombs.[18] The Taiwanese media has also reported that Taiwan has Rockeye cluster bombs.[19] Taiwan has also imported from the US Hydra-70 air-to-surface unguided rocket system, but it is not known if the ammunition types available to it include the M261 Multi-Purpose Submunition rocket.[20]

In April 2013, the armed forces used 81 DPIC MLRS in training exercises. It is not known if the area was cleared of unexploded submunitions after use.[21]

There is no public information regarding the number of cluster munitions in Taiwan’s stockpile. Taiwanese officials have informed the Monitor that information on the number and types of cluster munitions possessed by Taiwan is a military secret.[22]