Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Contact    |    RSS icon Twitter icon Facebook icon  
Unexplained Mysteries
You are viewing: Home > News > Science & Technology > News story
Welcome Guest ( Login or Register )  
All ▾
Search Submit

Science & Technology

Taiwan's secret bases inadvertently revealed

By T.K. Randall
February 17, 2019 · Comment icon 5 comments

Taiwain's top secret missile sites are no longer much of a secret. Image Credit: Google Earth
The latest Google Earth update has ended up revealing the locations of Taiwan's hidden missile bases.
While the search giant's satellite mapping service is invaluable when it comes to finding the nearest tourist attraction or planning out a road trip, sometimes it can be a little too detailed for its own good.

After Google released newly updated 3D maps of Taiwan on Wednesday, it didn't take long for authorities in the country to notice that the service had included all of its secret missile sites.
The images are so detailed that it is even possible to tell what make and model the launchers are.

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense is currently in talks with Google over the issue however Minister of National Defense Yen De-fa has somewhat played down the risks involved by stating: "the location of defense infrastructure in times of peace does not indicate its location during times of war."

This isn't the first time that Google has included images of sensitive locations on its satellite mapping service either - facilities in other countries, including the infamous Area 51, are also visible.

In an age where commercial satellites can not only view military facilities but photograph them and post the images online, keeping anything on the surface truly secret has become nigh on impossible.

Source: Business Insider | Comments (5)




Other news and articles
Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by Jon the frog 5 years ago
nowhere to hide anymore !
Comment icon #2 Posted by Seti42 5 years ago
Why would you hide missiles? 99% of their 'defense' value is in your enemies knowing you have them. OK, sure, you don't want your enemies to know exactly where they are...but still.
Comment icon #3 Posted by mdbuilder 5 years ago
Probably another one of those unintended quirks in Google's Chinese version.
Comment icon #4 Posted by Vlad the Mighty 5 years ago
It's quite normal. I think they can request to have them pixellated or at lower resolution, but usually military facilities are shown quite clearly. You can get some interesting closeups of naval bases and military airbases. For instance, you can get a nice closeup of Groom Lake, Nevada (see here https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@37.235351,-115.7975088,5592m/data=!3m1!1e3  ). Of course, you won'[t see anything particularly hush-hush, though there are a couple of 'Janet' 737s on the ramp.
Comment icon #5 Posted by Vlad the Mighty 5 years ago
And here's Engels Air Force Base, Russia, home of Tu-95 'Bears' and Tu-160 'Blackjacks'.  https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Engels,+Saratov+Oblast,+Russia/@51.4843197,46.221426,4374m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x4114b9a9ab070fa1:0x8d7c91ec34431ef0!8m2!3d51.4753297!4d46.1136773


Please Login or Register to post a comment.


Our new book is out now!
Book cover

The Unexplained Mysteries
Book of Weird News

 AVAILABLE NOW 

Take a walk on the weird side with this compilation of some of the weirdest stories ever to grace the pages of a newspaper.

Click here to learn more

We need your help!
Patreon logo

Support us on Patreon

 BONUS CONTENT 

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee, you can gain access to a wide range of exclusive perks including our popular 'Lost Ghost Stories' series.

Click here to learn more

Recent news and articles