Taiwan staged a powerful display of its missile capabilities on Tuesday, firing a variety of surface-to-air missiles in front of journalists at a sensitive test site located on the island’s southeastern coast. This demonstration comes amid escalating Chinese military activities near Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory. Taiwan, a democratically-governed nation, has been actively bolstering its defense capabilities in response to China’s growing assertiveness.
At the Jiupeng base in Pingtung County, the military launched both US-made Patriot and Taiwan-made Sky Bow III missiles into the sky at dawn. Simultaneously, a warship stationed off the coast fired a RIM-66 Standard missile.
“All missiles fired today have successfully hit their targets,” stated Defence Ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang, highlighting the training prowess of the military personnel and the effectiveness of the weapon systems. “We have achieved all our objectives,” he assured reporters during a rare visit to the base.
Jiupeng base serves as the testing ground for the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, a government-run weapons developer. This facility is responsible for testing new missile systems, including the extended-range version of the Hsiung Feng missile, which is designed to target deep within Chinese territory.
Taiwan’s government firmly rejects China’s territorial claims, asserting that only the island’s people have the right to determine their future. This recent missile demonstration underscores Taiwan’s commitment to its defense strategy, employing a combination of US-made and domestically-developed weaponry to deter any potential threats from China.
