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Democratically governed Taiwan, which China views as its own
territory, keeps a close watch on all Chinese military
activities given Beijing's regular activities around the island,
but only rarely releases details of what it sees taking place
inside China.
The ministry said that from 4 a.m. (2000 GMT on Friday) it had
detected "multiple waves of test launches" by China's Rocket
Force in Inner Mongolia, which lies some 2,000 km (1,200 miles
from Taiwan.
Taiwan's forces are continuously monitoring developments and the
air defense forces are on alert, the ministry said, without
giving details.
China's defense ministry did not answer calls seeking comment
outside of office hours. The Rocket Force is in charge of
China's conventional and nuclear missile arsenal.
In August 2022, China fired missiles into the waters around
Taiwan during war games to express anger at a visit to Taipei by
then-Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.
Taiwan operates powerful radar stations on some of the peaks of
its central mountain range that can look far into China,
according to security sources.
China detests Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, who took office in
May, calling him a "separatist", and has increased its military
pressure including war games since his inauguration.
Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but been rebuffed.
He rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only Taiwan's
people can decide their future.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by William
Mallard)
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