China tests anti-missile defense system

BEIJING: Amid rising tension between Beijing and Washington over the US weapons delivery to Taiwan, China test fires a system for intercepting missiles. A successful test report of "ground-based midcourse missile interception technology" was released on Monday by the official news agency. "The test is defensive in nature and is not targeted at any country," it said, adding that the test was conducted within Chinese territory and achieved the expected objective. The report follows repeated complaints in recent days by Beijing over the US-Taiwan weapons deals. Though, China split with Taiwan amid civil war in 1949, it continues to regard Taiwan as part of its territory. In recent weeks, the US awarded a 969-million-dollar contract to Lockheed Martin for the provision of 263 PAC-3 air defense missiles to Taiwan. A USD1.1 billion contract was also awarded to Raytheon Co. for production of the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System for Taiwan. The sale rounds out a USD 6.5 billion arms package approved under then US President George W. Bush in late 2008. China has reiterated objection to the US arms sales to Taiwan, calling it interference in Beijing's internal affairs that could undermine relations with Washington.