China Shoots Missiles Over Taiwan And Into Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said that it's the first time that a Chinese ballistic missile has ever landed within the waters. Kishi said, This is a grave issue that concerns our country's national security and the safety of the people. The Japanese government also lodged a diplomatic protest to the Chinese government

By Donald Standeford, SJ Founder/Publisher
August 04, 2022 02:00 pm UTC
Modified: August 04, 2022 02:00 pm

TAIWAN/JAPAN - Chinese state-affiliated media announced live fire exercises in the Taiwan Strait. The Japanese Ministry of Defense reported that five Chinese missiles are 'presumed' to have landed in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Chinese state-affiliated media People's Daily posted a map of designated areas surrounding Taiwan, along with a statement regarding "long-range live-fire shooting training" in the Taiwan Strait having been conducted at around 1pm.

The statement said that the "PLA Eastern Theater Command conducted long-range live-fire shooting training in the Taiwan Strait on Thursday at around 1 pm and carried out precision strikes on specific areas in the eastern part of the Taiwan Strait with expected results achieved."

The drills were carried out in over six locations around the island of Taiwan, as shown on the map, and followed U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to the island which was heavily condemned by the Chinese government.

A statement by the Chinese Ministry of Defense posted the same map, with the same areas marked and said, "BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Xinhua News Agency is authorized on Tuesday to release the following notice: from 1200 (Beijing Time) August 4 to 1200 (Beijing Time) August 7, 2022, the Chinese People's Liberation Army will conduct important military exercises and training activities including live-fire drills in the following maritime areas and their air space bounded by lines joining.

25-15.26N 120-29.20E, 24-50.30N 120-05.45E, 25-04.32N 119-51.22E, 25-28.12N 120-14.30E
26-07.00N 121-57.00E, 25-30.00N 121-57.00E, 25-30.00N 121-28.00E, 26-07.00N 121-28.00E
25-34.00N 122-50.00E, 25-03.00N 122-50.00E, 25-03.00N 122-11.00E, 25-34.00N 122-11.00E
22-56.00N 122-40.00E, 23-38.00N 122-51.00E, 23-38.00N 123-23.00E, 22-56.00N 123-09.00E
21-14.00N 121-33.00E, 21-33.00N 121-18.00E, 21-07.00N 120-43.00E, 20-48.00N 120-59.00E
22-43.00N 119-14.00E, 22-10.00N 119-06.00E, 21-33.00N 120-29.00E, 22-09.00N 120-32.00E

For safety reasons, entering of vessels and aircraft to the above-mentioned sea and air space is prohibited."

Taiwan news, the Liberty Times has reported that the Maritime Port Bureau put out a statement saying that the Chinese military has added another zone to its military exercises beginning today, making it a total of seven zones surrounding the island of Taiwan.

The seventh zone that was added is in the "eastern sea". The exercises have also been extended to next Monday at 10 am in the morning.

The Liberty Times reported that the: "The Ministry of Transportation said that it will not affect the original plan of civil aviation. That is to say, the routes coordinated with neighboring Japan and the Philippines are maintained, and some international flights can be flown out, and domestic flights are not affected.

23°40′00″N latitude, 122°30′00″E longitude 23°40′00″N latitude, 122°54′00″E longitude 23°13′00″N latitude, 122°54′00″E longitude

A four-point line connecting 23°13'00" north latitude and 122°30'00" east longitude."

Reports and videos have been coming out that allegedly show China firing missiles over Taiwanese airspace, across Taiwan and into the sea on the other side of the island.

Taiwanese military expert Lu Li-shi (呂禮詩) had predicted that China may fire missiles over Taipei, Taichung, and Kaohsiung during their live fire exercises, as reported by Taiwan News on August 2nd, 2022 which had reported that China immediately announced the live-fire exercises just 15 minutes after U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made her visit to the island.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday said that Pelosi's visit to Taiwan was a "manic, irresponsible and highly irrational" thing for the United States to do, according Chinese state-run news CCTV.

He said, speaking at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting located in Phnom Penh, Cambodia that China has taken utmost effort into avoiding a crisis, but that it will never allow its core interests to be harmed.

CCTV cited the Foreign Minister as saying that current measures taken by China are both necessary and timely defensive countermeasures, that have been carefully considered and evaluated before execution. He said that their purpose is to safeguard national sovereignty and security, and are in line with Chinese domestic law.

Taiwan has reportedly canceled around 40 flights on Thursday, according to the China Times paper after the Chinese began firing artillery near the island, according to Alarabiya news. Hong Kong's The South China Morning Post said that the drills were an "effective Taiwan blockade".

China has also banned the imports of hundreds of food items from Taiwan, including fish, cookies and fruit.

The Japanese Ministry of Defense put out a release on the Chinese missile launches around Taiwan. The MOD reported that five missiles are 'presumed' to have landed in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said that it's the first time that a Chinese ballistic missile has ever landed within the waters. Kishi said, "This is a grave issue that concerns our country's national security and the safety of the people. The Japanese government also lodged a diplomatic protest to the Chinese government."

The Japanese MOD report is as follows (Translated From Japanese):

"China seems to have launched nine ballistic missiles between around 15:00 and past 16:00 today. Five of them are presumed to have landed in Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Details below.

① At around 14:56, launched from the coast of Fujian Province and flew about 350 km.
② At around 14:56, it was launched from inland China and flew about 700km.
③ At around 15:14, the missile was launched from inland China and flew about 550 km.
④ At around 15:57, it was launched from the Zhejiang coast and flew about 350km.
⑤ At around 15:57, it was launched from the Zhejiang coast and flew about 650km.
⑥ At around 16:05, launched from the coast of Fujian Province and flew about 500 km.
⑦ At around 16:05, launched from the coast of Fujian Province and flew about 550 km.
⑧ At around 16:08, launched from the coast of Fujian Province and flew about 500 km.
⑨ At around 16:08, launched from the coast of Fujian Province and flew about 550 km.

(1) is outside Japan's EEZ within the training area set to the north-northwest of Yonaguni Island announced by China, and (5) to (9) are set to the southwest of Hateruma Island announced by China. It is presumed to have landed in Japan's EEZ within the training area. In addition, it is presumed that ⑥ through ⑨ flew over the main island of Taiwan.

It is presumed that items (2) and (3) landed in the training area set southwest of Taiwan announced by China, and that item (4) landed in the training area set in northern Taiwan announced by China.

Ballistic missiles have been dropped in training areas set up in the waters near Japan, including Japan's EEZ. The Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces will continue to make every effort to collect and analyze information and conduct warning and surveillance."