Hsiung Feng III missile mishap

On 1 July 2016, a Hsiung Feng III missile was accidentally launched from a Republic of China Navy vessel from water off Kaohsiung towards Penghu. The missile hit a fishing boat at 8:40 a.m., killing one person and injuring three.

Chronology
The Chin Chiang PGG-610 patrol ship was undergoing a regular simulation training exercise for military equipment on the morning of 1 July (Friday) at Zuoying Naval Base in Zuoying District, Kaohsiung. The missile was accidentally launched at 8:00 a.m. during an inspection at the navy base. The missile cruised around 75 km for two minutes towards mainland China before hitting a Taiwanese fishing boat. The missile did not explode upon impact. The navy sent a helicopter and navy vessels to the area for damage inspection.

The mishap killed the Taiwanese boat's captain and injured its three crew members, from Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam.

The missile did not cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan and mainland China.

An investigation of the incident concluded in August 2016. Three ROC naval officers were charged by the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office. The Ministry of Justice announced in November that the family of captain Huang Wen-chung would be paid NT$34.84 million in compensation. The Kaohsiung District Court issued its first ruling on the case in September 2017, setencing Petty Officer Second Class Kao Chia-chun to eighteen months imprisonment, Chief Petty Officer Chen Ming-hsiu to 24 months imprisonment, and Lieutenant Junior Grade Hsu Po-wei to fourteen months imprisonment.

Reactions

 * People's Republic of China - The incident took place on the same day as the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China in Beijing. Taiwan Affairs Office Head Zhang Zhijun urged Taiwan to give a "responsible explanation" of the incident.