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▼ Japan Protests After Chinese Missiles Land In Its Exclusive Economic Zone
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Ballistic missiles fired by China are believed to have landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for the first time, Tokyo's defence minister said Thursday (Aug 4).
"Five of the nine ballistic missiles launched by China are believed to have landed within Japan's EEZ," Nobuo Kishi told reporters, as China holds massive military drills in the waters around Taiwan.
Japan "lodged a protest with China through diplomatic channels", Kishi said, calling the matter "a serious problem that affects our national security and the safety of our citizens".
Taiwan's defence ministry said the the missiles flew high into the atmosphere and constituted no threat to it, in response to public concern about whether they passed over the main island of Taiwan.
The ministry said in a statement it would not disclose the Chinese missile flight path due to intelligence concerns.
Earlier, it said 11 Chinese Dongfeng ballistic missiles had been fired in waters around the island. The last time China fired missiles into waters around Taiwan was in 1996.
China is holding its largest-ever military exercises around Taiwan, which it considers its territory and has vowed to one day seize, by force if necessary.
The show of military might was sparked by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-ruled island, despite stern warnings from Beijing.
Pelosi's plane touched down in Japan on Thursday for the final stop on her Asian tour.
AFP reporters saw the aircraft land at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, with Pelosi arriving from South Korea.
Parts of Japan's southernmost island region Okinawa are close to Taiwan. Kishi said it was the first time Chinese ballistic missiles had landed in Japan's EEZ.
The EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from Japan's coastline, beyond the limits of its territorial waters.
The figure of nine missiles fired was an assessment by the Japanese side, Kishi said, adding that the five appeared to have landed southwest of Okinawa's Hateruma island.
The drills began on Thursday, and involved a "conventional missile firepower assault" in waters to the east of Taiwan, the Chinese military said.
Japan had on Wednesday expressed concern to China over the drills, saying they were planned to take place in maritime areas which overlap with its EEZ.
All nine missiles were believed to have fallen within areas designated by China for the military exercises, Kishi said.
The minister declined to comment on China's intentions regarding the drills, but nonetheless called them "extremely menacing".
"Five of the nine ballistic missiles launched by China are believed to have landed within Japan's EEZ," Nobuo Kishi told reporters, as China holds massive military drills in the waters around Taiwan.
Japan "lodged a protest with China through diplomatic channels", Kishi said, calling the matter "a serious problem that affects our national security and the safety of our citizens".
Taiwan's defence ministry said the the missiles flew high into the atmosphere and constituted no threat to it, in response to public concern about whether they passed over the main island of Taiwan.
The ministry said in a statement it would not disclose the Chinese missile flight path due to intelligence concerns.
Earlier, it said 11 Chinese Dongfeng ballistic missiles had been fired in waters around the island. The last time China fired missiles into waters around Taiwan was in 1996.
China is holding its largest-ever military exercises around Taiwan, which it considers its territory and has vowed to one day seize, by force if necessary.
The show of military might was sparked by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-ruled island, despite stern warnings from Beijing.
Pelosi's plane touched down in Japan on Thursday for the final stop on her Asian tour.
AFP reporters saw the aircraft land at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, with Pelosi arriving from South Korea.
Parts of Japan's southernmost island region Okinawa are close to Taiwan. Kishi said it was the first time Chinese ballistic missiles had landed in Japan's EEZ.
The EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from Japan's coastline, beyond the limits of its territorial waters.
The figure of nine missiles fired was an assessment by the Japanese side, Kishi said, adding that the five appeared to have landed southwest of Okinawa's Hateruma island.
The drills began on Thursday, and involved a "conventional missile firepower assault" in waters to the east of Taiwan, the Chinese military said.
Japan had on Wednesday expressed concern to China over the drills, saying they were planned to take place in maritime areas which overlap with its EEZ.
All nine missiles were believed to have fallen within areas designated by China for the military exercises, Kishi said.
The minister declined to comment on China's intentions regarding the drills, but nonetheless called them "extremely menacing".
- August 5, 2022
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