China conducts 'precision missile strikes' in Taiwan waters

China conducted “precision missile strikes” Thursday in the Taiwan Strait as part of military exercises that have raised tensions in the region to their highest level in decades.

China announced that military exercises by its navy, air force and other departments were underway in six zones surrounding Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary.

Five of the missiles fired by China landed inside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone off its coast. Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi protested the missile landings to China as “serious threats to Japan’s national security and the safety of the Japanese people.” 

The drills were prompted by a visit to the island by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week and are intended to advertise China’s threat to attack the self-governing island republic. 

China fired long-range explosive projectiles, the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army, the ruling Communist Party’s military wing, said in a statement. It also said it carried out multiple conventional missile launches in three different areas in the eastern waters off Taiwan. 

“All missiles hit the target accurately,” the Eastern Theater said in its announcement. No further details were given.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it tracked 11 Dongfeng missiles in the waters in the north, east and south.

Earlier during the day, Taiwan’s Defense ministry said its forces were on alert and monitoring the situation, while seeking to avoid escalating tensions. Civil defense drills were held last week and notices were placed on designated air raid shelters months ago.

China’s “irrational behavior” intends to alter the status quo and disrupt regional peace and stability, the ministry said.

China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported the exercises were joint operations focused on “blockade, sea target assault, strike on ground targets, and airspace control.”

Meanwhile, the mood in Taiwan was calm.

Fishermen are likely to be the most affected by the drills, which cover six different areas surrounding Taiwan, part of which come into the island’s territorial waters.



In this image taken from video footage run by China's CCTV, a projectile is launched from an unspecified location in China, Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022. China says it conducted "precision missile strikes" in the Taiwan Strait on Thursday as part of military exercises that have raised tensions in the region to their highest level in decades. (CCTV via AP)