TAIPEI, Sept 29 (Reuters) – Taiwan’s Defence Ministry announced on Sunday that it is on heightened alert after detecting “multiple waves” of missile launches in inland China. This development comes just days after Beijing confirmed a successful test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Taiwan, a democratically governed island that China considers part of its territory, closely monitors Chinese military activities, particularly around its borders. However, it typically shares limited information regarding military movements within China.
Starting from 6:50 a.m. local time (2250 GMT on Saturday), Taiwan’s Defence Ministry reported detecting missile firings by China’s Rocket Force and military in several provinces, including Inner Mongolia, Gansu, Qinghai, and Xinjiang—all located over 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) from Taiwan. The ministry emphasized that Taiwan’s military is “continuously monitoring relevant developments,” with air defense forces maintaining a high level of vigilance.
Attempts to contact China’s Defence Ministry for comments outside of office hours were unsuccessful. The Rocket Force is responsible for managing China’s conventional and nuclear missile capabilities.
On Thursday, Taiwan had already raised alarms about increased Chinese military activity surrounding the island, labeling Beijing’s maneuvers as signs of policy instability. In response, China’s military characterized its actions around Taiwan as “legitimate,” asserting that such drills would persist.
This latest military activity follows China’s announcement of a successful ICBM launch into the Pacific Ocean, marking a rare occurrence of such tests. Taiwan has previously faced missile launches from China, notably during military exercises in August 2022, in response to then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island.
Taiwan employs powerful radar systems situated in its central mountain range, enabling it to monitor activities deep within Chinese territory, as per security sources.