China's guided missiles land near Taiwan

Taiwan reported that guided missiles launched by China in military exercises held around the island following the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi fell in areas it considers “territorial waters.” In a statement, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said that 11 guided Donfeng missiles fired by the Chinese military between 13:56 and 16:00 local time fell in the north, south and east of the island. The statement noted that “the activity endangered regional peace” and that “the Taiwanese armed forces detected the situation with surveillance and reconnaissance vehicles and activated their defense systems and went on alert.” The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command announced at noon that “conventional missiles were fired at some areas east of the Taiwan Strait and the targets were successfully hit.” Videos posted by the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command on the social networking site Weibo showed that “Dongfeng 15-B” type short-range guided missiles were fired. It was also reported that PCL-191 rockets fired from Fucien Province on the opposite shore of the Taiwan Strait fell off Pingtan Island. It was reported that joint exercises involving naval and air elements would be held in the north, southwest and southeast of the island, conventional missile tests would be conducted in the east and long-distance artillery fire drills would be conducted in the Taiwan Strait. The Defense Department announced that it would conduct a "series of military exercises" around the island after Pelosi's plane reached Taiwan. The exercises, which are expected to last until August 7, are China's