Washington has condemned China’s ongoing large-scale military exercises around Taiwan, which included firing five missiles Thursday that landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone for the first time, as “irresponsible” and a “significant escalation” of tensions.
The White House lambasted Beijing, saying it is using U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent trip as a “pretext to increase provocative military activity” in and around the self-ruled island.
The Japanese government said that launches into the EEZ — which extends 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from Japan's coast — were likely done “intentionally,” a move by China that could further upend ties with its neighbor.