The government of Japan said today that five ballistic missiles fired by China during their maneuvers this Thursday they fell into waters belonging to their special economic zone (EEZ).
The Ministry of Defense of Japan announced that the missiles hit within the EEZ of the archipelago, for which the Japanese authorities have moved a protest to Beijing.
China This Thursday began maneuvers with live fire around Taiwan(which is about 160 kilometers from the southwestern tip of the Japanese archipelago), in response to the visit on the eve of the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.
Nine missiles detected
Japan detected nine Chinese ballistic missile launches between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. local time (6:00 a.m.-7:00 a.m. GMT), of which five went to its EEZ, according to the Japanese Defense Minister, Nobuo Kishiin statements to the media.
“This is a very serious incident that affects the security of our territory and our population,” said Kishi, who also stated that this is the first time that ballistic missiles from the chinese army impact the waters of the special economic zone.
The Government Japan has presented a diplomatic protest to the Chinese Executive as a result of the launches, carried out within the framework of the exercises of the Chinese Army in the Strait of Taiwan and that have caused the closure of maritime and air space in six areas around the island considered by Beijing as part of its territory.
The missiles ended up in waters near the island of Hateruma, belonging to the archipelago of Okinawain the extreme southwest of Japan.
The incident comes to increase tensions between neighboring countries, after in recent months Tokio has denounced an increase in Chinese naval military activities around the Senkaku Islands, administered by Japan but claimed by Beijing (which he calls Diaoyu), and in other areas of the archipelago.
EFE