Taiwan’s Defense Ministry confirmed on Thursday afternoon that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched “several Tongfeng-class guided missiles” into waters north-east and south-west of the island.
According to Newsmen, a ministry spokesperson stated shortly that Taiwan’s armed forces tracked the firings in real time after they were detected at 1:56 p.m. (0556 GMT) and activated related defense systems.
“This irrational action that is undermining regional peace,” the ministry said.
The Defence Ministry’s confirmation appeared to be one of the first indications that China had begun “live-fire” air and sea military drills, as previously announced by the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command of “joint training drills” in six areas surrounding Taiwan.
Chinese maneuvers around Taiwan have intensified, with widespread firing exercises.
On Thursday, the PLA’s eastern military command reported that long-range shells were fired in the Taiwan Strait, which separates Taiwan from the mainland, and east of the island.
“Precision strikes” were also conducted in the east for practice purposes, according to Chinese state television.
In response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, China ordered the most extensive military exercises in a long time.
The visit by the top US politician, who continued her Asia tour in South Korea on Thursday, fueled tensions over Taiwan even further.
It was the highest-ranking visit from the United States in a quarter-century.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry stated that the country’s armed forces were on combat alert, monitoring all six manoeuvre areas surrounding the democratic island republic as well as offshore islands.
Taiwan, according to the ministry, is prepared for conflict but not seeking it, and will defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity if necessary.
