Chinese ballistic missiles have landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for the first time, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said Thursday.
• Read also: China fired ‘multiple’ ballistic missiles into waters surrounding Taiwan
“Five of the nine ballistic missiles fired by China are suspected to have landed in Japan’s EEZ,” Kishi told reporters, as China began major military exercises in the waters surrounding Taiwan after a visit by Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives.
Four of these five ballistic missiles “would have flown over the island of Taiwan”, also announced the Japanese Ministry of Defense.
“Japan has lodged a protest with China through diplomatic channels,” Kishi said, calling the incident a “serious issue that affects our national security and that of our citizens.”
Some islands in Okinawa Prefecture, in the far south of Japan, are only a few tens of kilometers from Taiwan, and the minister claimed that this was the first time that Chinese ballistic missiles had entered Japan’s EEZ, which extends up to 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from its coasts.
The figure of nine missiles was assessed by Japan, he said, adding that five of them appeared to have crashed southwest of the Japanese island of Hateruma.
The minister declined to comment on Chinese intentions regarding the military drills, calling them “extremely threatening.”
China on Thursday launched military exercises on an unprecedented scale around Taiwan in response to the visit of Ms. Pelosi, who stayed Tuesday evening and Wednesday on the island despite strong warnings from Beijing, which considers Taiwan as one of its provinces.
Ms. Pelosi’s move is seen by China as a provocation, support for Taiwan independence supporters and a reneging on the United States’ promise not to have official relations with the island.
In response, the Chinese military has launched a series of military exercises in six sea areas all around Taiwan, along busy trade routes and sometimes just 20 kilometers from Taiwan’s shores.
The maneuvers, which began at noon Thursday (0400 GMT), included “conventional missile fire” at waters off the east coast of Taiwan, said Shi Yi, a spokesman for the Chinese military.
Japan had already expressed its “concern” on Wednesday, when China announced which maritime area would be affected by its maneuvers.