Taiwan tests missiles on US soil in hot situation

Taiwan will test PAC-3 interceptor missiles on US soil to avoid information gathering by China.

Taiwan plans to test its latest missile defense system for the first time in the United States next July amid deteriorating relations with mainland China, military sources said.

AFP quoted a source from Taiwan's defense agency as revealing that the test of the US-made PAC-3 defense system will be conducted at the White Sands Missile Range missile test site, New Mexico, in early July 2016.

According to the source, the test will be conducted in the US to avoid information collection by China, and due to space constraints in Taiwan.

Taiwan to test PAC-3 on US soil to guard against China

Taiwan's move is expected to anger Beijing, even though the missile test was planned before Tsai Ing-wen took office.

The American Institute in Taiwan, which acts as the de facto US embassy, ​​did not comment on the test. Although it has no formal diplomatic relations with Taipei after recognizing China in 1979, the US remains Taiwan's biggest ally and main arms supplier.

According to Taiwan's "Liberty Times", this missile system was purchased by Taiwan in 2008, long before Ms. Tsai Ing-wen came to power, and the test was approved by the US in 2015.

Taiwan purchased three older PAC-2 systems in the 1990s and also tested them in the US. These systems have been deployed in densely populated areas of Taipei.

Taiwan later purchased the new PAC-3 defense system, designed to intercept ballistic missiles near the end of their trajectory, as part of a $6.5 billion arms deal between the US and Taiwan in 2008. The deal had sparked a fierce reaction from Beijing.

Taiwan's PAC-2 missile

Taiwan's defense ministry said the system has been partially deployed and will protect Taipei, as well as the central city of Taichung and southern Kaohsiung from missile attacks from China.

The Liberty Times reported that Taiwan’s missile unit participating in the test in July will fire two missiles to intercept a missile fired by the US military, simulating a ballistic missile fired from China. Japan is also testing the PAC-3 system in the US.

According to Taiwan, there are currently 1,500 Chinese missiles aimed at the island. China fired ballistic missiles into the waters off Taiwan in 1995 and 1996 in an attempt to disrupt the island's first democratic presidential election.

Relations between China and Taiwan cooled rapidly after China-skeptic Tsai Ing-wen took office in May 2016, ending eight years of rapprochement.

According to Baodatviet