Missile Incident Propels New Round of Insanity in Taiwan’s Media

Like other forces the world over, the Taiwanese military is prone to mistakes. While it should be pressured to improve its performance, repeated public humiliation isn’t the way to reach that goal 

As expected, last week’s accidental firing of an anti-ship missile by a Taiwan Navy ship during a routine exercise, resulting in the death of a fishing boat captain, has sparked a storm of derision in Taiwan’s media, which never miss an occasion to belittle the nation’s armed forces. Friday’s Hsiung Feng III incident was unquestionably a serious blunder, one that warrants a full investigation and through review of the procedures that, in this case, failed to prevent the launch of a deadly missile. 

That being said, the accident and the reactions to it should not turn into a media circus or a platform to humiliate the men and women who every day put their lives on the line defending this nation’s way of life. 

My article, published today in The News Lens International, continues here.