🇹🇼 During Taiwan’s Han Kuang-41 exercise, a U.S.-made Patriot missile launcher encountered an embarrassing mishap on July 11 in Xindian District, New Taipei. While navigating a narrow urban street, the vehicle clipped the awning of a local street food stall, getting partially lodged in the structure. The driver miscalculated the turn, and any further movement risked damaging the launcher or civilian property.
Military personnel immediately cordoned off the area, and local police were deployed to manage traffic. A joint assessment team, including American representatives, arrived on-site to evaluate the damage and resolve the situation.
The launcher remained immobilized for approximately 2.5 hours, delaying operations and raising questions about tactical mobility in urban zones. Although no structural or civilian injuries were reported, the incident drew attention across social media as a symbolic “wartime hiccup.”
