Taiwan on high alert after detecting 'multiple waves' of missile launches from inland China

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said on Sunday that it was on alert after detecting “multiple waves” of missile firing deep within inland China. This development comes days after China reported a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Taiwan, which is democratically governed and viewed by China as its territory, closely monitors Chinese military drills due to Beijing’s frequent activities around the island. However, Taiwan rarely releases details of what it observes taking place within China.

The ministry said that starting from 6:50 a.m. (2250 GMT on Saturday) it had detected ”multiple waves of firing” by China’s Rocket Force and army in the provinces and regions of Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai and Xinjiang, which all lie at least 2,000 km (1,200 miles) from Taiwan.

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Taiwan’s forces are ”continuously monitoring relevant developments, and air defence forces have maintained a high level of vigilance and strengthened their alert”, the ministry added in a statement.

On Thursday, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry raised the alarm over a renewed surge of Chinese military activity around the island and live fire drills, accusing Beijing of policy instability.

China’s military responded by saying its activities around Taiwan were ”legitimate” and its drills would continue.

A day earlier, China said it had successfully conducted a rare launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, into the Pacific Ocean.

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In August 2022, China fired missiles into the waters around Taiwan during war games to express anger at a visit to Taipei by then-Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

Taiwan operates powerful radar stations on some of the peaks of its central mountain range that can look far into China, according to security sources.

With inputs from Reuters.