The trade deficit between Greater China and US should improve as Taiwan will be in market for 500 Patriots soon ... I wonder what they will do about the infiltrators in Taipei already
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Tuesday, June 19, 2001
Taiwan ready to test-fire Patriot missiles
REUTERS in Taipei
Updated at 2.42pm:
Taiwan said on Tuesday it was ready to test-fire its Patriot missiles, in a move seen as demonstrating its defences in the face of arch-rival China's growing missile threat.
The military was tight-lipped about details, but aviation authorities said it had received orders to advise aircraft about the test-firing, which starts on Wednesday.
An official at the Civil Aeronautics Administration, who declined to be identified, said the agency has declared specific ''gun firing'' air zones in southern Taiwan between 8.00am and 10.30am from June 20 to 22 and on June 26.
''Preparations for the test-firing of Patriot missiles have been very smooth. Everything is according to the plan,'' said defence ministry spokesman Huang Suey-sheng.
''But to ensure national security, the exact date and time of the test-firing cannot be revealed,'' Mr Huang told a news conference.
Mr Huang repeated that mainland China's ongoing war games on an island opposite Taiwan were routine and had no wider significance.
Media in Taiwan and China had suspected the exercises on Dongshan Island off Fujian province were a warning to Taiwanese president Chen Shui-bian following his visit to the United States and Latin America.
Taiwan leaders have warned of an ever-growing battery of missiles on the Chinese coast where up to 500 missiles have been deployed within easy range of the island's main political, economic and military facilities.
Over Beijing's objections, Washington agreed in 1993 to sell Taiwan the Patriot Advanced Capability, or PAC-2, anti-missile system.
Taiwan deploys its three batteries of Patriot missiles - 200 in all - in the northern portion of the island to protect the Taipei area, its political and economic centre.
The island is armed with home-grown anti-aircraft Sky Bow and Sky Sword missiles and the Patriots finally give it the ability to shoot down at least some ballistic missiles.
Taiwan is also eager to buy a more advanced version of the Patriot, PAC-3, and the Aegis air defence system - both of which requests Washington turned down this year.
But US President George W. Bush agreed to sell Taiwan eight submarines and four Kidd-class destroyers in the biggest arms package for the island in a decade.
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