China Says Missile Interception Test Successful
China says it has successfully carried out a test of military technology to shoot down missiles in mid-air. The news comes in the wake of tensions between Beijing and Washington because of American missile sales to Taiwan, an island China considers part of its territory.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu Tuesday told reporters her country's test of emerging military technology was successful. Jiang says Monday's test of "ground-based, mid-course missile intercepting technology" had what she describes as "the expected result."
There have been few details about the test. But the Chinese spokeswoman says it has not left any debris in space orbit and does not constitute a threat to the security of other spacecraft.
She emphasizes that the anti-missile test is in line with what she calls China's path of peaceful development and is not targeted at any country.
Jiang says China has what she describes as a "defensive international defense policy." She says China is stepping-up its defense modernization in the interest of national security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The apparently successful test came soon after the United States cleared a sale of advanced missiles to Taiwan, despite strong opposition from Beijing.
The NYT has all the hysterical political he-said, she-said you could want on this here. |
Posted by: Steve White 2010-01-13 |