The Chinese People’s Liberation Army launched military exercises around six waters and airspace near Taiwan island from August 4 to 7. The Japanese Defense Ministry released a statement on August 4 that China launched nine ballistic missiles from 3 to 4 p.m. Japan time (i.e., 2 to 3 p.m. Hong Kong time) and an estimated four missiles from the coast of Fujian flew over Taiwan.
According to Yomiuri News, the Defense Ministry of Japan said the four missiles had flown over the area around Taipei. A program on the Chinese official media CCTV on the evening of the 4th confirmed that “the PLA’s conventional missiles crossed Taiwan island for the first time” and that “they crossed the airspace where Patriot missiles are densely deployed and hit the target with precision.”
Japan’s Ministry of Defense released a chart assessing the routes of the nine ballistic missiles, listed as ① to ⑨:
According to the Japanese assessment, the information about the nine ballistic missiles is as follows (the time shown is Japan time, which is one hour faster than Hong Kong):
- Around 14:56, launched from the coast of Fujian Province and flew about 350km.
- Around 14:56, launched from China and flew about 700km.
- Around 15:14, launched from China inland, and the flight was about 550km.
- Around 15:57, launched from the coast of Zhejiang Province and flew about 350km.
- Around 15:57, launched from the coast of Zhejiang Province and flew about 650km.
- Around 16:05, launched from the coast of Fujian Province and flew about 500km.
- Around 16:05, launched from the coast of Fujian Province, and the flight was about 550km.
- Around 16:08, launched from the coast of Fujian Province and flew about 500km.
- Around 16:08, launched from the coast of Fujian Province and flew about 550km.
The Japanese side said that it is presumed that 6 to 9 flew over Taiwan’s main island, that is, the ballistic missiles launched at 4:05 to 08 p.m. JST (3:05 to 08 p.m. HKT).
The Japanese side is dissatisfied with the fact that five missiles fell into the exclusive economic zone. Its Ministry of Defense pointed out that among the nine ballistic missiles, five (5 to 9 in the figure) fell into Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Japanese side protested against the Chinese side.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said earlier that it does not accept the so-called “Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone”.