China today launched 11 Dongfeng (DF) ballistic missiles into waters around Taiwan as part of military exercises that began today in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island.
This was reported by the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense, quoted by the official Central News Agency, specifying that the launches took place at different times.
The Taipei army "immediately grasped the dynamics of launch, activated the related defense systems and strengthened combat readiness".
Journalists from the AFP news agency saw
bullets fired by the Chinese army
in the direction of the Taiwan Strait.
China attacks the G7 on Taiwan
.
"It is the United States that has caused the troubles, the crisis and which continue to increase tensions", said Foreign Minister Wang Yi, commenting in harsh tones on the joint G7 communiqué which yesterday asked Beijing to avoid a " aggressive military activity "because of the risk of" unnecessary escalation "and" not to unilaterally change the status quo by force ".
The blatant US provocation, with the visit to Taipei of the speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, "has created a bad precedent if it is not corrected and opposed," Wang added in a ministerial note.
MISSILS DEFEAT, JAPAN PROTEST
-
Five ballistic missiles launched by China during the maxi military maneuvers around Taiwan ended up in Japan's exclusive economic zone
.
This was reported by the Japanese Defense, protesting the action of Beijing.
THE EXERCISES
- These are the largest military exercises ever carried out around Taiwan amid growing tensions in response to the visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Official media recall that these are "large-scale military and training maneuvers" that include live artillery and missile fire in seven off-limits maritime areas for navigation and overflight.
More areas encroach on Taiwan's territorial and inland waters, as well as Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone.
THE FEARS OF TAIPEI
- Taiwan's armed forces "operate as usual and monitor our surroundings in response to the irrational activities" of the People's Republic of China "with the aim of changing the status quo and destabilizing the security of the region".
This was stated in a note by the Taipei Defense Ministry at the start of large-scale Chinese military maneuvers around the island.
"We do not seek escalation, but we do not stop when it comes to our security and sovereignty. We will support the principle of preparing for war without seeking war and with the attitude of 'not escalating conflicts and not causing controversy'".
MANEUVER UNTIL MONDAY
- The duration of the "targeted military maneuvers" is extended from Sunday 7 August to Monday 8 until 10:00.
THE REPLY OF CHINA
- Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei is "a provocation and a violation of sovereignty".
Therefore, "taking the necessary countermeasures is the right move," said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Beijing government's Taiwan Affairs Bureau.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) reported that "the entire training mission to launch live ammunition has been successfully completed".
US REPLY
- "The United States opposes any unilateral effort to change Taiwan's status quo, especially by force."
This was stated by the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinkenn.
"US policy on the island has not changed", reiterated Nlinken, stressing that "the stability of the strait is in the interest of the entire region".
EU CONDEMNATION
- EU diplomacy chief Josep
Borrell condemned China's "targeted military exercises"
around Taiwan, noting that the visit of the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island is not a valid motivation.
"There is no justification for using a visit as a pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait," Borrell tweeted.
"It is normal and routine for lawmakers in our countries to travel internationally. We encourage all parties to remain calm, exercise restraint and act transparently," added Borrell, in Phnom Penh for Asean.
The foreign ministers of Asean, the 10 countries of Southeast Asia (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam), have warned that the growing situation of tension around Taiwan could trigger " open conflicts ".