VERONICA PEDROSA, CNN ANCHOR: Taiwan says it has successfully test fired three of its U.S.-made Patriot missiles. As Mike Chinoy reports, the tests come as China is flexing its military muscle on the other side of the Taiwan Strait.</s>MIKE CHINOY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In skies off southern Taiwan, message for China that, Taiwan's arm forces successfully testing U.S. Patriot missiles for the first time. Three missiles were fired from military base. Army spokesman said they hit their targets. Taiwan has 200 patriots, upgraded versions what the U.S. used against Iraqi scuds during the Gulf War. Intended to intercept incoming missiles, the Patriots have been deployed primarily around Taiwan's capital Taipei to bolster defenses against what is widely seen as China's greatest military threat to the island: hundreds of missiles deployed to Chinese side of the Taiwan Strait. For Taiwan's military, the successful test demonstrates not only Patriots have been integrated into the island's defense systems, but that the armed forces are capable of operating such sophisticated technology. The tests come as China is continuing with major military exercise on island just across from Taiwan, exercise intended to demonstrate Beijing's great military might and its determination to resolve the Taiwan issue by force, if necessary. Officials here say the timing of the patriot test was coincidence, it has served as a warning Taiwan now has the capability to knock at least some Incoming Chinese missiles out of the sky. Mike Chinoy, CNN, Taipei.
Taiwan Says It Has Successfully Test Fired Three of U.S.-Made Patriot Missiles