Taiwan’s Navy has mistakenly launched a supersonic anti-ship missile from its Kaohsiung naval base, killing one person and injuring three, officials say. A patrol boat was undergoing a drill inspection when the Hsiung Feng III missile was set off, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported. It was fired in the direction of mainland China and hit a fishing boat off the Penghu islands, it added. The boat’s captain, who is Taiwanese, has been killed, defense officials say. The incident comes as China celebrates the 95th anniversary of the formation of the Chinese Communist Party, BBC reported. When asked by reporters if the incident would affect relations with Beijing, Vice Admiral Mei Chia-hsu said the navy had reported it to the island’s Defense Ministry. She said the case was under investigation and would be handled “accordingly”. It was unclear whether Beijing had been notified directly. The missile has a range of about 300 km. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province, to be reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. It has hundreds of missile pointed toward the island at all times.
