Taiwan’s Defence Ministry announced on Sunday that it is on high alert after detecting “multiple waves” of missile launches deep within China, just days after Beijing claimed a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Taiwan, which China considers its territory, closely monitors Chinese military activities due to Beijing’s frequent drills around the island, though it seldom provides details on actions occurring within China itself.
Starting at 6:50 am (2250 GMT on Saturday), Taiwan’s Ministry detected missile launches by China’s Rocket Force and army in several provinces, including Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang, all situated over 2 000 km (1 200 miles) from Taiwan. In response, Taiwan’s forces are maintaining heightened vigilance and continuously monitoring developments, as stated in a ministry release.
Source: wikipedia.org
The Chinese Defence Ministry did not respond to inquiries outside of office hours. The Rocket Force manages China’s conventional and nuclear missile arsenal. Taiwan’s alert comes amid a recent uptick in Chinese military activity surrounding the island, which Taiwan has described as indicative of policy instability. In contrast, China labeled its activities around Taiwan as “legitimate,” asserting that military drills would persist.
Notably, the day before Taiwan’s warning, China announced the successful launch of an ICBM into the Pacific Ocean. This follows a pattern established in August 2022, when China fired missiles into waters around Taiwan to protest a visit by then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei. According to security sources, Taiwan operates advanced radar stations on peaks in its central mountain range, allowing it to monitor activities deep into China.
