A fast patrol boat followed up the air attacks by firing anti-ship missiles at floating targets. An armored battalion then simulated an attack on enemies hitting the beach, opening fire in a deafening roar as residents of the south Taiwan onion-growing town of Chechen crowded at the side of a nearby road to watch. He is scheduled to attend the commissioning of a batch of about 20 French-made Mirage fighters on May 10. China has deployed an increasing number of missiles in coastal provinces facing Taiwan, and many of the anti-missile defenses on the island's shopping list reflect that threat. While Taiwan's leaders have urged Washington to help defend their fledgling democracy by providing it with proper defenses, they avoided taking sides during the US-China row over a downed spy plane.
China considers Taiwan a renegade province.