Taiwan on Thursday strongly condemned China’s “North Korea” style missile firing into waters near the self-governed island as it asked Beijing to exercise self-restraint amid rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait. “On August 4, China launched multiple ballistic missiles into waters to the northeast and southwest of Taiwan, threatening Taiwan’s national security, escalating regional tensions, and affecting regular international traffic and trade,” the Taiwan foreign ministry said in a statement.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China (Taiwan) strongly condemns the Chinese government for following the example of North Korea in willfully test-firing missiles into waters near other countries, and demands that China exercise self-restraint,” it added. The Taiwan Defence Ministry today confirmed that China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has launched multiple Dongfeng (DF) ballistic missiles at the island’s Northeast and Southwest waters. This comes as China commenced military drills around Taiwan’s main island, a day after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi departed from Taipei following a visit that has rankled Beijing.