It was updated on August 4, 2022, 09:54am.
The Chinese military carried out missile strikes as part of its biggest-ever military drills surrounding Taiwan, just a day after a US delegation led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island.
A woman uses her mobile phone as she walks in front of a large screen.
In an official statement, the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army said it carried out long-range live fire precision missile strikes.
The drills achieved the expected results.
The missiles were tracked by the Taiwanese defense ministry as they landed on the island.
The live firings were part of a set of high-stakes military drills by the Chinese military.
Joint blockade, sea target assault, strike on ground targets, and airspace control operation are some of the things that the exercises are focused on.
Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party called China's actions "irresponsible, illegitimate behavior," while the island's defense ministry labeled it as " irrational action that has jeopardized regional peace."
The map shows where the Chinese military is holding drills.
The foreign ministers of the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, Germany, Italy and Japan criticized China's saber rattling and called out "threatening actions" which could lead to unnecessary escalation. There is no reason to use a visit as a pretext for aggressive military activity. Legislators from our countries travel around the world on a regular basis.
According to the New York Times, there are some concerns within Washington that China's military drills around Taiwan could eventually lead to a blockade of the island. According to the report, there are fears that the proximity of the drills to the island could cause an unforeseen incident that could lead to an escalation. If China attacked Taiwan, the U.S. would come to its defense, according to President Joe Biden.
The announcement of China's military drills was made in response to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. Pelosi said her support for Taiwan was a choice between democracy and autocracy. Since 1997, the most high-profile visit by a US official to Taiwan has been by Newt Gingrich. The U.S. does not support Taiwanese independence, according to President Joe Biden, who spoke with his Chinese counterpart last week. Biden said that the U.S. is against China changing the status quo. Those who play with fire will die, according to a statement issued by Beijing after the call.
Pelosi says the U.S. is determined to preserve democracy.
China claims to have launched missiles in the Taiwan Strait.
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