Taiwan shows off missile firepower in rare visit to sensitive test site By Reuters

Written by Fabian Hamacher and Ann Wang

JIUPENG, Taiwan (Reuters) – Taiwan demonstrated its missile capabilities on Tuesday, launching surface-to-air missiles in front of reporters during a visit to a sensitive test site in a remote area on the island's southeast coast.

Democratic Taiwan, which China considers its territory, has complained about China's military escalation as Beijing seeks to assert its claims to sovereignty, while Taipei has been strengthening its deterrent force.

Missiles are a key part of Taiwan's defense strategy, which is US-made and domestically developed.

In the center of Jiupeng in Taiwan's Pingtung County, a military test fired US-made Patriot cruise missiles and Taiwan-made Sky Bow III missiles into the sky at dawn, while a coastal warship fired RIM-66 Standard missiles.

“All the missiles fired today hit the target and proved two points – the first is that the training of our soldiers is very strong, and the second is that our weapons systems have been confirmed during this live-fire exercise,” said Defense Ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang.

“Overall we have achieved our goals,” he told reporters on a rare trip to the area.

Jiupeng is also where state-run weapons developer National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology tests new missiles, such as a long-range version of the Hsiung Feng designed to hit targets deep inside China.

Taiwan's government rejects China's territorial claims, saying only the people of the island can decide their future.