Taiwan has designed and is now producing a new domestically made rifle—the T112. The upgrade is a small part of the country's ambitious plans to modernize its military.
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00:00Target practice, with Taiwan's latest domestically produced combat rifle, to be rolled out in
00:14the tens of thousands as the country modernizes its military in the face of rising threats
00:19from China.
00:20It's going to replace a service rifle that's been in use for nearly 20 years. The updated
00:49weapon is meant to be more reliable, more durable, and more accurate than its predecessor.
00:55The T112 was designed and developed here for the Ministry of National Defence's 205th
01:01Armoury in southern Taiwan, one of the largest weapons factories in the country. Most of
01:07Taiwan's smaller weapons are produced here, and this latest rifle is costing the country
01:13more than US$250 million.
01:16This is just a small part of the US$20 billion Taiwan has allocated to spend on defence.
01:22The amount recently raised as the country looks to counter increasing aggression from
01:27China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory.
01:36Taipei has also lengthened conscription. The country is pursuing what's known as asymmetric
01:41warfare, strategically using weapons and other tactics that could help it ward off
01:46a foe that outguns and outmans it.
02:09This rifle may soon be used by thousands of young Taiwanese as they enrol in mandatory
02:14military service. It's hoped that the new design will allow those conscripts to train
02:19more effectively and more quickly, preparing them for an eventuality when they might be
02:25called up to take up arms in defence of their country.
02:29Luffy Lee and Rick Loud in Kaohsiung for Taiwan Plus.