Taiwan on alert over ‘waves’ of missile tests in northern China

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday that it was observing “waves” of missile tests in China’s northernmost region, Inner Mongolia, and that its air defense forces were on alert.

Democratically ruled Taiwan, which China considers its own territory, closely monitors all Chinese military activities given Beijing’s regular activities around the island. However, the country rarely discloses details about what it observes inside China.

The ministry said it had detected “several waves of test launches” by China’s missile force in Inner Mongolia, about 2,000 kilometers from Taiwan, since 4 a.m. (20:00 GMT on Friday).

Taiwan’s armed forces are continuously monitoring developments and its air defense forces are on alert, the ministry said, without giving details.

China’s Defense Ministry did not return calls seeking comment outside office hours. The Rocket Force is responsible for China’s conventional and nuclear missile arsenal.

In August 2022, China fired missiles into the waters around Taiwan as part of war games to express its displeasure over the visit of then-Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taipei.

According to security sources, Taiwan operates powerful radar stations on some peaks of its central mountain range, from which it has a far-reaching view into China.

China detests Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who took office in May, and labels him a “separatist.” Since he took office, the country has increased its military pressure, including through war games.

Lai has repeatedly offered talks to China but has been rebuffed. He rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and says only Taiwan’s people can decide its future.