Taiwan’s Defence Ministry has sounded the alarm, placing the island on high alert after detecting multiple waves of missile launches deep within inland China. This development comes just days after China announced the successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, further escalating tensions in the region.
Taiwan, a democratically governed island claimed by China as its territory, closely monitors Chinese military exercises due to Beijing’s persistent activities surrounding the island. However, Taiwan typically avoids divulging details about what it observes within China’s borders.
The ministry revealed that starting at 6:50 a.m. local time on Saturday, it had detected multiple waves of missile launches conducted by China’s Rocket Force and army in the provinces of Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang. These locations are all situated at least 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from Taiwan.
In response to the detected activity, the ministry emphasized that Taiwan’s forces are continuously monitoring relevant developments, and its air defence forces are maintaining a high level of vigilance and have heightened their alert status.
Earlier this week, on Thursday, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry raised concerns over a resurgence of Chinese military activity around the island, including live fire drills, accusing Beijing of displaying policy instability. China’s military countered by asserting that its activities around Taiwan were legitimate and its drills would continue.
The heightened tensions follow China’s announcement on Wednesday that it had successfully conducted a rare launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Pacific Ocean. This event further fueled concerns about China’s expanding military capabilities and its assertive stance towards Taiwan.
In August 2022, China fired missiles into the waters surrounding Taiwan during military exercises as a response to a visit by then-Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taipei.
Taiwan utilizes powerful radar stations strategically placed on the peaks of its central mountain range, providing a vantage point for monitoring deep into China, according to security sources. This sophisticated infrastructure enables Taiwan to track and assess Chinese military activities with greater precision.
