China fires missiles in ‘unprecedented’ drills around Taiwan

China's People's Liberation Army conducts missile tests into the waters off the eastern coast of Taiwan on Thursday [Eastern Theatre Command via Reuters]

China fired a barrage of ballistic missiles into the waters around Taiwan as it launched large-scale military exercises in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-ruled island.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said it detected 22 Chinese fighter jets briefly crossing the Taiwan Strait’s “median line” during Thursday’s exercises, and Taipei scrambled fighter jets in response.