Taiwan is not eligible to sign the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. Likewise, it cannot
sign the CCW. It is not a member of the United Nations, or the Conference on
Disarmament. While no official statements on Taiwanese policy toward the ban
treaty are available, an official of the National Defense Ministry said that
Taiwan has stopped use of antipersonnel
mines.[40]
Production
The National Defense Ministry official also stated
that Taiwan has stopped production of antipersonnel mines, and already developed
an alternative weapon.[41] In
the past, the company Hsing Hua produced copies of U.S. M16A1 bounding
fragmentation mines, M2A4 bounding fragmentation mines, M3 blast mines, and
M18A1 Claymore mines.[42]
Transfer
There is no evidence that Taiwan has exported
antipersonnel mines. A 1993 U.S. State Department communication indicated that
Taiwan “may be attempting to sell [its] landmines
abroad.”[43]
The United States has exported 36,747 antipersonnel mines to Taiwan. Most
recent was a 1992 sale of 2,592 ADAM scatterable mines -- one of the last U.S.
shipments before its export moratorium went into place, and one of the few U.S.
exports of “smart”
mines.[44] The U.S. also
shipped 34,155 M3 mines in 1970 and
1974.[45] It is not known if
Taiwan imported mines from other nations.
Stockpiling
Details on Taiwan’s stockpile are not
available. It likely contains a combination of domestically produced mines and
U.S.-supplied mines, and perhaps Type 72 mines.
On Kinmen Island (also known as Quemoy), located just 1.8 miles from mainland
China, mine dumps were identified by the Pakistan-based NGO, Mine Clearance
Planning Agency (MCPA). Following is a quotation from its report:
DESCRIPTION OF THE OPEN MINE DUMPS:
Mines collected from surrounding areas have been stored in an open area. A
concrete wall with a height of about 50cm and width of approximately 30cm has
been constructed around the mines. The wall has been painted in red and yellow
colors and danger signs have been installed. Two rows of sandbags have also been
placed on the wall. High vegetation and trees have grown on the mine stores. The
mines were stored about 30 - 35 years ago. A total of nine such stores (dumps)
exist in the island.
No data is available about the type, quantity or any other technical
specifications of mines stored in the open dumps. The military also has no data
maps or any other information about these mine dumps. In accordance with the
local mine victims interviewed, both anti-personnel and anti-tank mines are
present. According to their descriptions and drawings made by a mine victim it
seems that Type-72 AP mines may also be stored in the dumps.
According to a village chief and other locals, mines had been collected from
the surrounding areas and then stored. The surrounding area was hardly used for
farming or any other activities. When asked how do they know that the area is
100% cleared, they had no assurance. The village chief said that most parts of
the area has been farmed in the past (3 - 4 years ago). However, the head of the
disabled association of the island said that areas around the mine dumps have
not been used at all and could potentially be dangerous.
It is suspected that in addition to landmines other devices including land
surface ammunition (LSA) and other unexploded devices (UXOs) might be stored in
the dumps as well. Houses are located in a distance of about 500 meters either
side of the landmine dumps. [46]
Use
An official of the National Defense Ministry has
said that Taiwan has stopped use of antipersonnel
mines.[47] Most parts of
Kinmen (Quemoy) Island were mined in the 1950s due to its strategic
location.[48]
Landmine Problem
Kinmen Island is contaminated by landmines.
According to one press account, there are eight abandoned minefields in Kinmen,
“which has been plagued by the danger posed by landmines for over four
decades.”[49] The Mine
Clearance Planning Agency report states:
Mines were used in coastline areas and areas around military installations.
Most of the landmines used around military installations were removed from the
ground and stored in open dumps some thirty years ago. However, landmines from
the coastal areas have not yet been cleared. A number of mine incidents
involving civilians have taken place in the past. The island is currently being
developed to be a National Park for tourist attractions. However, the presence
of mines is a serious problem faced by the local residents and will discourage
tourists. The army claims that they can deal with the mined areas in the coastal
areas but due to high risks involved, they are reluctant to deal with the mines
stored in the dumps.[50]
Mine Action
The Ministry of National Defense has set aside
NT$380 million (New Taiwan) dollars for removing all landmines from Kinmen. In
1997, Gurkha Services of the UK won a NT$47 million contract to clear the
minefield in front of a temple in Hsiputou village. The demining was completed
in May 1998 as scheduled. Gurkha Services won another one-year contract in
November 1998 to clear the remaining seven minefields. Work began in December.
“The British firm is expected to clean up all landmines at the five
minefields in Hsiputou village by the end of April 1999, and the two minefields
at Shuangjushan and Houpan village will be cleared up before the end of next
November,” said Major General Hu Chieh, deputy commander of the Kinmen
Defense Command.[51]
There is no information on mine awareness programs, landmine casualties, or
survivor assistance programs. The NGO Eden Social Welfare Foundation has
donated wheelchairs for mine victims in a number of countries, and has sponsored
an anti-landmine conference in Taiwan.
[42]Human Rights Watch and
Physicians for Human Rights, Landmines: A Deadly Legacy (New York: Human
Rights Watch, 1993), p. 475.
[43]U.S. Department of State,
Outgoing Telegram, Unclassified, Subject: landmine export moratorium demarche, 7
December 1993.
[44]U.S. Defense Security
Assistance Agency table, “U.S. Landmine Sales by Country,” provided
to Human Rights Watch 29 March 1994.
[45]U.S. Army, Armament,
Munitions, and Chemical Command (USAMCCOM), Letter to Human Rights Watch, 25
August 1993, and attached statistical tables, provided under the Freedom of
Information Act. (no page number).
[46]Sayed Aqa, MCPA,
“Landmine Problem in Kinmen Island--Taiwan,” January 1998.
[47]Landmine Monitor/Taipei
interview, March 4 1999.
[48]Sayed Aqa, MCPA,
“Landmine Problem in Kinmen Island--Taiwan,” January 1998.
[49]Taiwan Central News
Agency, “UK Firm Wins Bid to Clear Minefields on Kinmen Island,” 30
November 1998.
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