AFP :
Chinese forces fired “multiple” ballistic missiles into waters around Taiwan during Thursday’s military drills, Taipei’s defence ministry said, condemning what it described as “irrational actions that undermine regional peace”.
“The Ministry of National Defence stated that the Chinese Communist Party fired multiple Dongfeng series ballistic missiles into the surrounding waters of northeastern and southwestern Taiwan from approximately 13:56 this afternoon,” the defence ministry said in a brief statement.
Taiwan’s military did not confirm the precise location of where the missiles landed or whether they flew over the island. China’s People’s Liberation Army also confirmed missiles had been fired.
Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman of the Eastern Theater Command, said Chinese forces had launched “a multi-regional and multi-model conventional missile firepower assault on predetermined waters off the eastern part of Taiwan Island”.
“All the missiles hit the target accurately, testing the strike precision and area denial capabilities,” Colonel Shi added.
Meanwhile, AFP reports that the Chinese Armed forces launched projectiles into the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, as Beijing’s military announced “long-range live ammunition firing” in the area.
AFP reporters saw several small projectiles fired from the proximity of nearby military installations flying into the sky followed by plumes of white smoke and loud booming sounds around 1.13 pm (0513 GMT).
China’s military said in a statement it had carried out “long-range live ammunition firing on specific areas in the eastern Taiwan Strait.”
“Precision strikes were carried out on specific areas on the eastern Taiwan Strait and the expected results were achieved,” the Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said in a statement.
China is currently conducting some of its largest-ever military exercises encircling Taiwan, in a show of force straddling vital international shipping lanes after a visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Set to last until Sunday, the exercises will take place in multiple zones around Taiwan — at some points within just 20 kilometres (12 miles) of the shore.
