Chinese Ballistic Missiles Flew over Taipei before Landing in Japan’s EEZ

Five Chinese ballistic missiles launched during drills conducted around Taiwan have landed inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone for the first time.

Confirming the information, Japan’s defense ministry said the missiles landed within 200 nautical miles (370km) – they fell into waters southwest of Hateruma Island in Okinawa Prefecture. Four of these weapons had flown over Taipei, the ministry said. Hateruma Island is located just over 100km from Taiwan.

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"Five of the nine ballistic missiles launched by China are believed to have landed within Japan's EEZ," defense minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters. “This is a grave issue that concerns our country’s national security and people’s safety.”

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) announced late Tuesday – the day U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-ruled island – that it would hold some of its largest-scale military exercises.

More than 22 PLA fighters (8 J-11s, 12 Su-30s and 2 J-16s) entered the area surrounding Republic of China (ROC or Taiwan) on August 4, 2022.