Taiwan has fired missiles off its coastline as it boosts the island’s defence against the increasingly aggressive China.
The test is understood to have taken place off the coast of the easterly Taitung county and at the Jiupeng military base in the southernmost county of Pinging on Thursday.
Taiwan is an island of the south-east coast of China which is independent from the superpower.
Taiwan’s defence ministry said it was part of a four-day missile test and other weapons would follow a similar drill in the coming days.
But, it did not reveal what missiles were tested or whether future tests would be carried out between Friday and Tuesday.
The developer of the missiles, National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, also declined to name the missiles, saying the test was in line with the defence ministry’s plan to develop the island’s own weapons.
A spokesman for the company did, however, describe the Tien Kung-3 missile used in tests carried out in April.
He said: “The weapon system could engage high-performance fighters, cruise missiles, anti-radiation missiles and short-range ballistic missiles with multiple simultaneous engagements.
“It is designed to be operated by battery autonomously or under control from higher echelon units.”
Taiwan’s missile test comes as tensions in the region escalated recently with both the US and China boosting its military deployment.
China has condemned the US military for the "provocative" flight of one of its aircraft over Beijing-claimed Taiwan, saying the move infringes upon its sovereignty and contravened international law.
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