A number of neighboring countries sent ships to seas off the east coast of Pingtung County to observe the military's test-firing of US-made Patriot missiles last month, defense sources said yesterday.
According to the defense sources, China, South Korea, the Philippines and India sent ships to observe the June 20 missile tests.
The tests, in which a dummy aircraft and missile were successfully knocked out of the sky with three Patriots, took place at a missile-testing site in Chiupeng township in Pingtung County.
A defense official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he wasn't surprising that Taiwan's first test-firing of the Patriot missiles drew the attention of neighboring countries.
The military had announced before the June 20 test date that it planned to try out the Patriots, providing ample time for other countries to coordinate their surveillance activities.
"But it was surprising that India was also curious about the missile tests," the official said. "They traveled a long distance from the Indian continent, only because they were curious about the missile tests."
According to the official, it wasn't the first time that the Indian military was discovered to be engaging in surveillance activities off Taiwan.
In recent years, at least one submarine from India has been spotted by the Taiwan navy off the eastern coast, according to defense sources.
"It was amazing that the Philippines was also interested in Taiwan's missile tests," the official said. "What they sent to collect information was basically a fishing ship, which didn't carry much high-tech equipment."
Among the countries that observed the Patriot tests, China expends the most effort collecting information on Taiwan's military capabilities.
In addition, China has an estimated 300 missiles pointed at Taiwan, and the Patriot missiles have been procured to help defend the country from that threat.
China collects information about Taiwan's military largely through ships usually disguised as fishing vessels, an intelligence source said.
"For the Chinese military, ships are the most reliable means for spying on Taiwan. They seldom use aircraft because aircraft can't stay in one spot for a long period of time like ships," the source said.
In addition to drawing the interest of Taiwan's neighbors, the June 20 tests also gained notice from others in the international community, as they were the first tests of their kind outside the US. The missile tests also attracted a great deal of publicity because they were conducted with the assistance of technicians from the US.
"Without the assistance from US technicians, the missile tests may not have been successful," an army official said.
The June missile demonstration was conducted by a Patriot company under the army along with technicians from the manufacturer of the Patriot system, Raytheon Co, and contract supplier Lockheed Martin.
Patriots are now deployed in three batteries in the greater Taipei area.
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