Chinese military announced it had conducted “long-range live-fire shooting training” in the Taiwan strait, including “precision strikes on specific areas in the eastern part” as Beijing protested a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command said in a statement that multiple missiles had been fired into the sea off the eastern part of Taiwan. It said all the missiles hit their target accurately.
“The entire live-fire training mission has been successfully completed and the relevant air and sea area control is now lifted,” China’s statement said.
The unprecedented drills included advanced weapons, including long-range rocket artillery, anti-ship ballistic missiles, stealth fighter jets and an aircraft carrier group with a nuclear-powered submarine, according to Chinese media.
PLA conducted long-range live-fire shooting training as China encircled Taiwan with rocket and ballistic missile fire while testing the democratic self-governing island’s defenses with navy ships and warplanes.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry said it “strongly condemns” Beijing for “following the example of North Korea in willfully test-firing missiles into waters near other countries”. Taipei also called on the international community to “condemn China’s military coercion”.
The US said it has been watching the Chinese military exercises near Japan “very very closely.”
Japan’s defense ministry said five missiles launched by China during the drills had fallen into its exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles from Japan’s coast.