Taiwan conducts live-fire missile drills

A Patriot short-range anti-aircraft missile launcher is prepared during a drill in Pingtung County, southern Taiwan

Taiwan’s military launched surface-to-air missiles in live-fire drills conducted yesterday in response to growing military pressure from China.

The exercises took place at the Jiupeng Military Base in a remote area in southern Taiwan. Among the missiles launched were Taiwan’s domestically made Sky Bow III anti-ballistic missiles along with the U.S.-made Patriot PAC II and surface-to-air Standard missiles.

Self-ruled Taiwan is China’s territory to be brought under Beijing’s control by force if necessary.

Beijing in particular dislikes Taiwan’s new President Lai Ching-te, who took office earlier this year and whom Beijing has called a separatist.

Taipei has boosted its deterrence capabilities in response. Missiles, both domestically built and U.S.-made, are key to its defense strategy.

Government spokesperson Sun Li-fang said all the missiles launched yesterday hit their targets.

“This shows our training is very strict and solid,” he said.

Beijing did not immediately react to Taiwan’s drill. China sends military jets and vessels near Taiwan frequently in what critics call an intimidation tactic.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said early yesterday it spotted five Chinese military jets and 11 ships close to its shores over the previous 24 hours. One aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial demarcation zone between the two sides.

While its military is dwarfed by China’s, Taiwan has bought high-tech weaponry from the United States, revitalized its domestic arms industry and extended the length of mandatory military service from four months to one year.

The U.S. is bound by its own laws to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself and considers all threats to the island as a matter of great concern. MDT/AP