Tensions in the Pacific. Taiwan announced this Sunday that it was on heightened alert after detecting “several waves” of missile launches inside Chinese territory, a few days after the test of an intercontinental ballistic missile by China.
The Defense Ministry said it recorded these shots in the provinces and regions of Inner Mongolia (north), Gansu (north), Qinghai (west) and Xinjiang (northwest) as early as 6:50 a.m.
“The army constantly monitors relevant events and the air defense forces maintain a high level of vigilance and strengthen their [état d’] alert,” he said in a statement. “Any threatening and provocative actions will seriously undermine regional stability,” the ministry added.
Military and political pressure
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has intensified military and political pressure on the island in recent years.
This weekend’s launches came after China said it conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test in the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, its first such test in decades.
Taiwan then strongly condemned this test and urged Beijing to “show restraint and stop its reckless military exercises which fuel regional tensions”.
