ANI
05 Aug 2022, 17:55 GMT+10
Washington [US], August 5 (ANI): The United States denounced China's missile launches in Japan's exclusive economic zone that were carried out as part of military exercises in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan, National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said on Thursday.
On August 4, China launched multiple ballistic missiles into waters to the northeast and southwest of Taiwan, threatening Taiwan's national security and escalating regional tensions in the region.
This follows Pelosi's high-stakes visit that marks the first visit by a US House Speaker in 25 years since Newt Gingrich came to Taiwan in April 1997. It was also Pelosi's first trip to Taiwan in over two decades.
"I'm sure all of you that covered overnight, the People's Republic of China launched an estimated 11 ballistic missiles towards Taiwan which impacted to the northeast, the east and southeast of the island. We condemn these actions which are irresponsible and at odds with our long-standing goal of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region," Kirby told a briefing.
"China has chosen to overreact and use the speaker's visit as a pretext to increase provocative military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait," he added.
A number of countries including the US on Thursday condemned the firing of five ballistic missiles by the Chinese military, which fell into Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
This comes as China is conducting live-fire drills in response to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. The missiles that China launched yesterday fell in an area located southwest of Hateruma Island in the southern prefecture of Okinawa.
Japan's Kyodo News reported that Tokyo has asked Beijing to immediately stop the military drills. "This is a grave issue that concerns our country's national security and the safety of the people," said Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi on Thursday.
The Fumio Kishida government lodged a diplomatic protest with the Chinese government. The Japanese publication has said the government slammed Chinese drills near Senkaku Islands, saying that the area overlaps with the EEZ.
Taiwan also strongly condemned China's "North Korea" style missile firing into waters near the self-governed island as it asked Beijing to exercise self-restraint. (ANI)
Get a daily dose of Peking Press news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Peking Press.
More InformationNEW YORK CITY, New York: Due to tighter lending standards from regional banks, US hotel developers are finding it more ...
DETROIT, MICHIGAN: Ford has announced that due to an engine defect that could cause fires, it will expand and issue ...
NEW YORK, New York - The bulls had the upper hand again on Friday, pushing the major indices to new ...
LOS ANGELES, California: After adjusting its battery supply chain to qualify for federal credits and other tax breaks, Tesla's Model ...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Before the start of its annual Worldwide Developers Conference this week, Apple shares hit a ...
FREMONT, California: Elon Musk's brain implant startup Neuralink, valued at some $2 billion during a private fundraising round two years ...
TAIPEI, Taiwan: Taiwan and the United States are set to sign the first deal under a new trade framework, marking ...
BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- The torch relay for the 31st FISU World University Games began here on Saturday, kicking ...
© Provided by Xinhua BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- When China's first civilian astronaut Gui Haichao was sent to the ...
© Provided by Xinhua BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- China will ramp up its flood control and disaster relief efforts ...
© Provided by Xinhua With China accounting for approximately one-fifth of global air traffic and boasting a growth rate of ...
© Provided by Xinhua The Hungarian FM attributed the success of the flourishing Hungarian-Chinese relations to the Eastern Opening Policy ...