Taiwan Strait Warms, Taipei Shows Off New Domestically Made Armored: Its Shooting Range Is 3 Kilometers, Can Operate In Any Weather

Illustrated by Lapis Baja CM-34 Taiwan CM-34 (Sumber: Wikimedia Commons / Presidential Palace / Wang Yu Ching)

JAKARTA - Taiwan shows off its military might, as the situation in the Taiwan Strait warms up again, displaying the capabilities of its military factories capable of producing modern armored vehicles.

Taiwan's military showcased its latest domestically produced armored vehicle on Thursday. Named the CM-34 Clouded Leopard, the vehicle was showcased at a remote manufacturing site in the mountains of the island's central part.

Taiwan is eager to show its determination to defend itself should China, which claims the democratically-ruled island as its own, ever attack. Those fears have become clearer over the past two years, as Beijing has stepped up military activity near Taiwan.

Previously, Taiwan relied on the United States for many of its weapons, such as fighter jets. Now, President Tsai Ing-wen wants a greater emphasis on weaponry designed and manufactured by Taiwan, the most famous of which is the new submarine.

The eight-wheeled CM-34, which entered service in 2019, is armed with the 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster chain gun, manufactured by Northrop Grumman and with an effective firing range of 3 km (1.9 miles). It is designed to be highly mobile, operating in any weather.

Reporting to Reuters on June 16, the vehicle was named after the Taiwan clouded leopard. Although now believed to be extinct, this animal is revered by some indigenous Taiwanese who consider it sacred.

The development of the vehicle is not without problems. Last year, several senior executives from a supply company were jailed for fraud over the procurement of substandard parts, including some from China, for the previous model, the CM-32.

Citing NHK, Colonel Su Jen-Pao, who is in charge of developing the CM-34, said independent defense capabilities could help Taiwan defend itself.

The colonel added that Taiwan would only be able to rely on itself. He said Russia's invasion of Ukraine had made that clear.

Meanwhile, head of production facilities Wang Wen-hung told reporters the factory in Jiji can produce six vehicles a month and has delivered 173 of them to the military out of a total order of 305 units.

It is known, that Taiwan and the United States are again 'involved' in a heated debate over the Taiwan Strait. China claims to have sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in southern Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Taipei reaffirmed the area as an international waterway, with the United States reaffirming its support, saying freedom of navigation and overflight in the area is guaranteed under international law.