News and Analysis Everyday Contact our Licensing Department Today

U.S. thought Taiwan got wrong batteries


Published: March 27, 2008 at 9:21 AM
Print story
Email to a friend
Font size:
WASHINGTON, March 27 (UPI) -- E-mail indicates U.S. officials initially thought wrong helicopter batteries were shipped to Taiwan, not parts for ballistic missiles, officials said.

U.S. government officials familiar with communications between the two countries said at some point between August 2006 -- when Taiwan received the shipment -- and last week -- when the United States learned of the error -- Taiwan opened the packages and noticed that the items inside included nose cones used with U.S. intercontinental ballistic missiles, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

"Last week they said they didn't think they could destroy these items and said it was warhead-related material," said the official, speaking to the Post anonymously because the incident is under investigation. "That was the first time there was any indication we weren't dealing with a battery. All the alarm bells went off at that point."

After Taiwanese officials reported four packages they received from the U.S. military weren't the expected helicopter batteries, U.S. officials suggested Taiwan dispose of them, the official said.

U.S. military officials said Wednesday Defense Logistics Agency workers apparently did not determine the materials sent to Taiwan were classified because unclassified inventory codes were on the outside of the packages, indicating they contained batteries.

© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
Print story
Order reprints
Email to a friend
Post comment
See Also:
» Next in Top News: Conviction in murder of adoptive mother

SUNNI FUNERAL
Relatives mourn the death of Ziad Ghalayini during his funeral in Beirut on 11 May 2008. Ghalayini, a Sunni Moslem and government supporter was killed during bloody clashes with Moslem Shiite Hezbollah fighters. Clashes continued throughout the country on Sunday and the country’s only international airport remained closed. (UPI Photo)
FUNERAL FOR PRO GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER
Full Photo | Slideshow