China's space hit spurs missile-defense debate China's use of a ground-based missile to destroy a satellite last month should spur debate about putting U.S. interceptor missiles in space, the head of the Pentagon's Missile Defense Agency said Monday. Interceptor downs missile in test over Pacific The U.S. military shot down a target ballistic missile over the Pacific on Friday in the widest test of its emerging anti-missile shield in 18 months, the Defense Department announced. Taiwan to get U.S. early warning radar WASHINGTON - The U.S. Defense Department said on Thursday it would supply Taiwan with key elements of a missile and air defense capability, a move aimed at defusing the threat from China.