TAIWAN - Fires Patriot missiles

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BBC Wednesday, 20 June, 2001, 08:52 GMT 09:52 UK

Taiwan fires Patriot missiles

The test was held at the coastal military base of Pingtung Taiwan's military has for the first time successfully test-fired American Patriot anti-missile weapons.

A spokesman said three missiles had been launched - one was a test launch, followed by two more which brought down a dummy missile and an airborne drone.

Local cable television showed footage of exhaust smoke from one of the missiles arcing across the sky.

China, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, is currently conducting military exercises off its south-eastern coast testing its ability to launch an invasion of the island.

The Taiwanese army issued a brief statement saying the Patriot missiles hit their targets in "one of the major drills to test our air defence capability".

An unnamed military official was quoted as saying "it appeared to be a perfect launch".

Defensive weapon

Our correspondent in the region says the timing of both events is thought to be a coincidence.

Taiwan bought 200 Patriot missiles from the United States in 1993. They are deployed around the capital Taipei to defend it from Chinese attack.

The Patriot missile is a defensive weapon system designed to intercept incoming targets.

It was deployed with some success against Iraqi Scud missiles during the 1991 Gulf War by the US and Israeli military, although it did gain a reputation for missing its targets.

Beijing fears

During the Taiwanese presidential election five years ago China fired ballistic missiles into shipping lanes off Taiwan.

The United States in April agreed to sell Taiwan a package of sophisticated weaponry, including warships and submarines.

Beijing fears Taiwan's military could eventually form part of a regional missile defence system that would provide a shield for Taiwan against China's growing arsenal of short-range ballistic missiles.

-- Anonymous, June 20, 2001


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