Taiwan shows off missile firepower at the Jiupeng base
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Loading... - Trude Arnold
- 20 Aug 2024
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On Tuesday, Taiwan showcased its missile firepower during a rare demonstration at the Jiupeng base in Pingtung County, located on the island's southeastern coast. This event, which was open to reporters, involved the test firing of several surface-to-air missiles as part of Taiwan's ongoing efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities in response to increasing military pressure from China.
The missile tests included the launch of U.S.-made Patriot missiles, domestically developed Sky Bow III missiles, and RIM-66 Standard missiles fired from a warship stationed off the coast. The tests took place at dawn, with all missiles reportedly hitting their targets successfully.
Defense Ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang emphasized the importance of these successful tests, stating, "All the missiles that were fired today have smoothly hit their mark and have proven two points - the first being that the training of our soldiers is very solid, the other being that our weapons systems have been verified during this process of live firing missiles." He concluded by affirming that the objectives of the exercise had been fully achieved.
The Jiupeng base, known for its sensitivity, is also the site where Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology tests new missile systems, including an extended-range version of the Hsiung Feng missile, designed to strike targets deep within China. This demonstration underscores Taiwan's commitment to bolstering its defense strategy amid ongoing tensions with Beijing, which views Taiwan as part of its territory and has increased its military activities around the island.
