A Taiwan-operated Patriot air defense missile exploded shortly after launch during a firing exercise, as the self-ruled island faces mounting military pressure from its neighbor, China.
The Taiwanese military told local media that it is investigating the cause of the incident, while publicly stating that the annual drill was completed and its results will be reviewed.
China‘s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a written request for comment.
Why It Matters
The Chinese Communist Party claims sovereignty over Taiwan—despite never having governed the island—and has vowed to use force to achieve unification if necessary. The Chinese military launched ballistic missiles into waters around Taiwan during a large-scale exercise in 2022.
Facing China’s military threat, Taiwan has acquired Patriot missiles and other weapons from the United States, with Washington legally required to provide the island with “defensive arms,” even though the two countries have not maintained diplomatic relations since 1979.
The Patriot air defense system—which was recently tested in combat in the Middle East—is capable of intercepting aerial threats including tactical ballistic missiles. Taiwan reportedly operates nine Patriot batteries, each consisting of up to eight launchers.
What To Know
Images and footage shared by the Facebook page Taiwan ADIZ show that during a firing exercise in southern Taiwan early Wednesday, a Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) missile exploded a few seconds after launch, while a second one was fired without incident.
Taiwan News reported that this marked the second time the island’s PAC-2 missile force—which was first delivered in 1996—has experienced a midair explosion since 2023.
According to the U.S. Missile Defense Agency, the ground-launched PAC-2 missile has a range of more than 60 miles. Unlike the newer PAC-3, which intercepts targets by impacting them directly, the PAC-2 detonates its high-explosive warhead near targets to destroy them.
Zheng Jian, a Chinese professor specializing in Taiwan affairs, told China’s state-run Global Times on Wednesday that the incident reflected what he described as the “outdated nature” of U.S.-supplied weapons and the limited maintenance capacity of the Taiwanese military.
The missile-launch incident comes ahead of a highly anticipated Chinese military parade scheduled for September 3. A Chinese military official said on Wednesday that the event will feature never-before-seen weapons.
U.S. defense contractor Raytheon claimed says the Patriot is one of the most widely adopted air and missile defense systems in the world, operated in 19 countries, including Ukraine. As of May 29, the system has been used in combat in more than 250 engagements.
Taiwan is set to operate another U.S. air defense weapon—the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS)—by the end of the year to protect its capital, Taipei.
What People Are Saying
Raytheon said in a press release in May: “Patriot has been continually upgraded and modernized to counter new and emerging threats. Key developments include the introduction of the Patriot Advanced Capability-2, or PAC-2, and later the Patriot Advanced Capability-3, or PAC-3, missiles, which brought significant enhancements in accuracy, range and lethality.”
Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, spokesperson for China’s Defense Ministry, said in April: “I want to underline that the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan cannot change the strength contrast between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait much less impede the historical and inevitable trend of China’s reunification.”
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen whether Taiwan will place additional orders for Patriot firing units from the U.S. amid China’s growing missile capabilities and the Trump administration’s demands that allies and partners boost defense spending.
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