Taiwan tested a batch of missiles Tuesday, hoping to reassure a population wary of Chinese intentions. But a high failure rate at the widely publicized event may have given it the opposite effect.
Taiwan test-fired 19 missiles, but about one-third missed their targets. The missile tests were the first held in full view of the press for almost 10 years.
The missiles tested included RIM-7M Sparrows, Sky Bow IIs ,which have a range of 125 miles (200 kilometers), MIM-23 Hawks and FIM-92 Stingers.
Six of the missiles failed, including one RIM-7M Sparrow failure.