China says it has successfully tested military technology designed to intercept a missile in mid-air.
China made the announcement Tuesday, saying the test was defensive in nature and not aimed at any country. State media said the test "achieved the expected objective," but did not elaborate.
The announcement follows Washington's decision last week to clear the sale of advanced U.S. Patriot air defense missiles to Taiwan as part of a larger $6.5 billion arms deal.
The official Xinhua news agency Monday called the sale "detrimental to Sino-U.S. relations," reiterating statements of protest made in Beijing last week.
China had asked the United States to call off the deal, saying it would damage U.S.-Chinese cooperation.
Taiwan and China split during a civil war in 1949, but Beijing still considers the island a part of its territory. It has threatened to use military force if Taiwan attempts to claim formal independence.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.