DATA & FIGURES
The AN/FPS-115 Pave Paws radar system cost around US$1.4 billion and became fully operational in 2013. The system can detect ballistic missile launches shortly after they rise above the radar horizon and can also monitor air-breathing targets, including aircraft and cruise missiles, as well as maritime activity in the Taiwan Strait. The radar's range allows it to monitor a wide area covering mainland China, the South China Sea, and the Korean peninsula, up to 3,100 miles away.
THE SCENARIO
The detection of China's ballistic missile launch by Taiwan's radar system comes amid rising tensions across the Taiwan Strait, with Beijing opposing military cooperation between Taiwan and Washington. The incident highlights the importance of Taiwan's early-warning network and its ability to detect Beijing's missile activities in real-time, allowing the island to respond quickly to potential threats. The US has committed to supplying Taiwan with weapons for its defense, and the island is seeking to deepen defense cooperation with Washington, including in intelligence sharing.
DIRECT QUOTE
"The missile was a JL-2, a second-generation intercontinental-range submarine-launched ballistic weapon." — Joseph Wu, Secretary General of Taiwan's National Security Council
BBN INSIGHT
The Positive Side: The detection of China's ballistic missile launch by Taiwan's radar system highlights the island's advanced defense capabilities and its ability to detect Beijing's military activities in real-time. This allows Taiwan to respond quickly to potential threats and strengthens its position in the region. The Negative Side: The incident also raises concerns about the potential for conflict in the Taiwan Strait, with Beijing opposing military cooperation between Taiwan and Washington. The US$1.4 billion cost of the radar system also raises questions about the economic implications of such investments, and the potential risks to the system, which could become a major PLA target in a conflict.