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China's military launches missiles into Taiwan waters day after Pelosi visit

Missile firings follow China vowing retaliation over House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan

August 4, 2022 10:00am

Updated: August 4, 2022 1:20pm

China on Thursday fired multiple missiles toward Taiwan, one day after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island and spoke with leaders.

The missile firing was confirmed by Taiwan and China officials, according to CNN

Taiwan's Defense Ministry said the missiles were fired at waters along the island's northeastern and southwestern waters. 

The move follows China vowing retaliation over Pelosi's visit, as Beijing increasingly tries to exert its rule over Taiwan.

The Chinese military said multiple missiles had been fired into the sea off the eastern part of Taiwan and that they hit their target accurately, CNN also reports.

"The entire live-fire training mission has been successfully completed and the relevant air and sea area control is now lifted," China said in a statement.

China's military reportedly said earlier that it had conducted long-range, live-fire training in the Taiwan Strait, as part of planned military exercises around the island.

Within hours of Pelosi leaving Taiwan on Wednesday, the island's Defense Ministry said China sent more than 20 fighter jets across the median line in the Taiwan Strait, the midway point between the mainland and Taiwan that Beijing says it does not recognize but usually respects, also according to CNN