While the maxi Chinese military maneuvers around the island are underway , the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense has confirmed the launch of "several ballistic missiles" starting at 13.46 local time (7.46 in Italy) by the People's Liberation Army in the waters. northwestern and southwestern of the island.
The spokesman for the ministry said at a press conference. In response, the Taipei Armed Forces activated the defense systems . The ministry also "condemned China's irrational actions" that "threaten regional peace and stability".
The tension therefore remains high after the visit of the speaker of the US House Nancy Pelosi to Taipei : "It is not a defense of democracy and freedom, but a provocation and a violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China" and " taking the necessary countermeasures is the right move, "said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwanese Affairs Bureau of the Beijing government .
Collusion with foreign forces will lead Taiwan to "self-destruction" and "into the abyss of disaster," Ma added.
" It is the United States that has caused the troubles , the crisis and that tensions continue to increase," added Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Which today convened the ambassadors of the G7 countries, including Italy, and of the EU to "express the most complete disappointment" on the statement signed yesterday by foreign ministers of strong criticism on the military exercises launched today by Beijing around the island of Taiwan, in response to the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
JAPAN'S POSITION - Meanwhile, Japan's foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, has asked China to "immediately stop" military exercises around Taiwan following developments that saw five Chinese ballistic missiles fall into Japan's exclusive economic zone . The move, confirmed by the Taipei Defense Ministry, is a worrying signal that, in the event of unforeseen events, it could lead to escalation scenarios given the concrete risks of accidents.
Hayashi, in Phnom Penh for the ASEAN ministerial summit, met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken: both, the Kyodo agency reported, strongly condemned the work of Beijing.
(Unioneonline / Dv.l.)
