China launches ballistic missiles into waters near Taiwan

Caption: According to the Japanese MoD, five of the missiles launched from within China on 4 August fell within Japan's exclusive economic zone. Some of the missiles also flew across Taiwan. (© 2022 MOD Japan/©2022 Janes)

China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched a barrage of ballistic missiles into waters near Taiwan on 4 August.

Janes analysis suggests that these missiles include the Dong Feng-15 (DF-15) and DF-16 family of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs).

The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) said a total of nine missiles were launched on 4 August from within China into waters southwest, northeast, and east of Taiwan between 2.56 pm and 4.08 pm Japan Standard Time.

This tallies with information provided by a Taiwan Ministry of National Defense (MND) spokesperson, who said in a press conference on 4 August that the missile launches started at 1.56 pm Taipei Standard Time.

The MND has not disclosed any information about the number of missiles launched, but various Taiwanese media reports indicate that up to 11 ballistic missiles may have been fired.

According to the Japanese MoD, the nine ballistic missiles it detected flew at ranges of between 350 km and 550 km. Five missiles that flew between 350 km and 550 km were launched from China's Fujian province. A further two missiles, which flew between 350 km and 650 km, were launched from Zhejiang province.

The remaining two missiles were launched from “inland China”, said the Japanese MoD without giving further details on the location. However, Janes assesses they were likely fired from China's Jiangxi province where the PLA Rocket Force (PLARF) is believed to have several garrisons that operate ballistic missiles with the ranges indicated.