China fired multiple ballistic missiles in the direction of Taiwan this morning, four of which flew directly over capital city Taipei in an unprecedented escalation, as it continues to carry out the largest ever military drills in the seas and skies surrounding the self-ruled island.
The country also imposed sanctions on US House speaker Nancy Pelosi and her immediate family in response to her “vicious” and “provocative” visit to Taiwan, said the Chinese foreign ministry.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken slammed China’s military exercises saying there was no justification for Beijing’s “extreme disproportionate and escalatory” response.
He said that China’s military exercises around Taiwan and the firing of missiles into Japan’s exclusive economic zone represent a “significant escalation”.
The statement came as Ms Pelosi reasserted America’s support for Taiwan, saying China will not be able to isolate the island by preventing US officials from travelling there.
Ms Pelosi, who is in Japan today for the final leg of her Asia tour, nonetheless added that her trip to the region was “not about changing the status quo in Taiwan”.
