Taiwan debuts U.S. missile tests

China and Taiwan routinely conduct war games

TAIPEI, Taiwan (CNN) -- Taiwan says it will test-fire its U.S.-made Patriot missiles for the first time this week. The show of strength comes as China conducts war games at nearby Beijing-held Dongshan Island. While China and Taiwan routinely carry out military drills, the tests are likely to inflame tensions between the two.

The show of strength comes as China conducts war games at nearby Beijing-held Dongshan Island.

While China and Taiwan routinely carry out military drills, the tests are likely to inflame tensions between the two.

Taiwan split from China in 1949 and China considers the island a renegade province that must be reunited with the mainland.

Beijing opposes any sales of American weapons or weapon systems to the island.

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But the testing comes in the wake of the United States signing off its largest arms deal with Taiwan in years.

Bolster defense

The United States has supplied Taiwan with three batteries of Patriot missiles -- 200 in all -- designed to boost the island's defense against the growing number of missiles deployed on the Chinese side of the Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan officials would not disclose the exact time or place of the missile tests, saying only that they will happen this week.

Taipei has downplayed the significance of testing the missiles this week, even as the Chinese People's Liberation Army conducts one of its largest war games in year across the Taiwan Strait.

They said the tests had been planned for some time and that the timing was simply a coincidence.

Missile attack

The tests underscore Taiwan's determination to bolster its abilities to protect itself against a missile attack from the mainland.

A spokesman with the Chinese Foreign Ministry has said any attempt to oppose reunification by force of arms would fail.

While Taiwan had asked the United States for a more advanced version of the Patriot missile, the Bush administration turned down the request.

The latest deal included Kidd-class destroyers, eight diesel submarines, and a dozen P-3 anti-submarine aircraft.

Senior Asian correspondent Mike Chinoy contributed to this report