Taiwan to develop 'blackout bomb'

RolandTD20Kdrummer

I guess this explains why Iraq has had no electricity. Even though it doesn't kill people immediately it's still a weapon of mass destruction. How insidious.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest+News/Asia/STIStory_169110.html

TAIPEI - TAIWAN is to develop a non-lethal graphite bomb designed to disable rival China's power supplies, it was reported.

Should war break out, the so-called 'blackout bombs' would be carried by Hsiungfeng 2E cruise missiles to paralyse the power systems of China's south-eastern coastal cities, the United Daily News said on Sunday.

The bombs work by sprinkling a cloud of chemically treated carbon fibres over power supplies, causing them to short-circuit, but without killing people.

If approved by Parliament, the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology - Taiwan's top arms research unit - would begin research and development of the weaponry at a cost of up to 500 million Taiwan dollars (S$22 million), beginning next year, according to the report.

Taiwan's defence ministry declined to comment on the claims.

Reports said the United States used the graphite bomb against Iraq in the Gulf War, wiping out 85 per cent of its electrical supply.

Rocky relations between Taiwan and China look set to continue after the island's independence-leaning President Chen Shui-bian dismissed an offer of a peace treaty with China, saying it would be like agreeing to 'a treaty of surrender'.

Speaking to the International Herald Tribune last week, Mr Chen said China's call for the signing of a peace agreement with Taipei under the term of 'one China principle' last week was made in terms that made it unacceptable.

Mr Hu made what he called the 'solemn appeal' in a keynote speech at the opening of the Chinese Communist Party's five-yearly Congress in Beijing on Monday last week, but insisted independence for the island would never be tolerated.

Taiwan and China split in 1949 after a civil war, and while the island has since governed itself, Beijing considers it part of its own territory awaiting reunification.

China has repeatedly threatened to invade the island should it declare formal independence, prompting Taiwan to acquire advanced weaponry, largely from the United States.

Taiwan earlier this month flexed its military muscle, showing off two home-developed missiles in a rare parade seen as a reminder to China that it has the means to defend itself. -- AFP

FinsburyParkCarrots

That explains the toy recall, then.

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

i thought we already had this. or something like it. i remember reading some spy novel a few years ago about a war between US and China, and the bombs were used in it. Maybe it was still theoretical.

anyway, go Taiwan!!!

RolandTD20Kdrummer

MrSmith wrote:

i thought we already had this. or something like it. i remember reading some spy novel a few years ago about a war between US and China, and the bombs were used in it. Maybe it was still theoretical.

anyway, go Taiwan!!!

The US used the bomb to destroy 85% of Iraq's electrical capabilities way back in 1990.

norm

didn't they do this in oceans 11?

Dirtie_Frank

RolandTD20Kdrummer wrote:

The US used the bomb to destroy 85% of Iraq's electrical capabilities way back in 1990.[/quote

HUH? During the Gulf War?

RolandTD20Kdrummer

Dirtie_Frank wrote:

RolandTD20Kdrummer wrote:

The US used the bomb to destroy 85% of Iraq's electrical capabilities way back in 1990.[/quote

HUH? During the Gulf War?

Quoted directly from the article I posted.

"Reports said the United States used the graphite bomb against Iraq in the Gulf War, wiping out 85 per cent of its electrical supply."

also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphite_bomb

Reading is your friend.

tybird

MrSmith wrote:

i thought we already had this. or something like it. i remember reading some spy novel a few years ago about a war between US and China, and the bombs were used in it. Maybe it was still theoretical.

anyway, go Taiwan!!!

We used something similar against Serbia during the Clinton years.

gabers

That's wild. I've never heard of this type of bomb. I haven't read Tom Clancy for a while, so I'm not up to date on the new toys.

RolandTD20Kdrummer

Too many innocent people affected with this type of bomb.

It would be a disaster for hospitals. No air conditioning or refrigeration for such large portions of a country?

whoa...

jlew24asu

cutback wrote:

didn't they do this in oceans 11?

a "pinch" great movie

LikeAnOpeningBandForTheSun

RolandTD20Kdrummer wrote:

Too many innocent people affected with this type of bomb.

It would be a disaster for hospitals. No air conditioning or refrigeration for such large portions of a country?

whoa...

Beats the hell out of one that blows shit up! On the scale of bomb destruction, this one is pretty 'safe'. Hospitals have generators and no AC or heating might kill a few old or sick people, but then again war is hell. They're the first ones to go in a war anyway.

RolandTD20Kdrummer

MrSmith wrote:

Beats the hell out of one that blows shit up! On the scale of bomb destruction, this one is pretty 'safe'. Hospitals have generators and no AC or heating might kill a few old or sick people, but then again war is hell. They're the first ones to go in a war anyway.

If you're looking for strike accuracy this WMD style device ain't it. Targeting 85% of a country with aggression with hopes of affecting .000001% is a seriously damaged approach.

That is unless one thinks the entire country (or race) itself is the enemy.