TAIPEI, Taiwan—China fired several Dongfeng ballistic missiles into waters near Taiwan on Thursday, drawing condemnation from the island’s defense ministry.
The missile launch was reported by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense at around 3:30 p.m. local time, and the missiles landed into water around Taiwan’s northeast and southwest.
According to the ministry, China began firing the missiles at around 1:56 p.m. local time. However, the ministry did not say the range of the missiles.
In response, the Taiwanese ministry said it activated its defense system and strengthened its combat readiness.
“We condemn such irrational action that has jeopardized regional peace,” the ministry wrote on Twitter.
Just before 6 p.m. local time, the ministry issued another statement, saying that China fired a total of 11 Dongfeng missiles as of 4 p.m. local time.
China has reported firing missiles as part of its planned exercises on Aug. 4. According to China’s state-run media, the Chinese military’s rocket force under the East Theater Command fired “multiple types of conventional missiles,” accurately hitting targets in water east of Taiwan.
On Aug. 2, China announced that it would hold live-fire military drills in six zones around Taiwan from Aug. 4 to Aug. 7, in apparent retaliation against a visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to the island. Some of the zones partially overlap with Taiwan’s territorial waters. The drills are the biggest the Chinese regime has ever held in the Taiwan Strait, according to Reuters.
By Frank Fang
