China-Taiwan news: Top Taiwan official found dead as China accused of attack simulation

Official had assumed charge to lead various missile production projects that sought to nearly double output

Missiles fired from Chinese coast amid Taiwan tensions

A top Taiwanese defence ministry official was found dead on Saturday as the self-governing territory accused China of carrying out a “simulated attack” with the country’s warships and planes conducting missions in the Taiwan Strait.

Ou Yang Li-hsing, the deputy head of the Taiwan defence ministry’s research and development unit, died from a heart attack on Saturday in his hotel room, reported state media.

The room had no signs of ‘intrusion’ and his family had a history of heart disease, said the official Central News Agency.

Meanwhile, the defence ministry tweeted on Saturday that multiple Chinese craft conducted missions in the Taiwan Strait, with some crossing the median line which is an unofficial buffer separating the two sides in what it sees as a “possible simulated attack.”

The developments come as Beijing continues its military offensive as it fired multiple ballistic missiles in the direction of Taiwan, four of which flew directly over the capital city Taipei.

US secretary of state Antony Blinken slammed China’s military exercises, saying there was no justification for Beijing’s “extreme disproportionate and escalatory” response.

The statement came as Ms Pelosi reasserted America’s support for Taiwan, saying that China will not be able to isolate the island by preventing US officials from travelling there.

Key points

• China halts cooperation with US on climate change and suspends military dialogue
• China fires ballistic missiles directly over Taipei in major escalation
• China sanctions US House speaker Nancy Pelosi
• No justification for China’s ‘extreme disproportionate and escalatory’ response, says Blinken
• Pelosi: Asian trip ‘is not about changing the status quo in Taiwan’
• China will not isolate Taiwan by preventing US officials from travelling there, says Pelosi
• Kishida: China’s military exercise aimed at Taiwan ‘grave problem’ threatening regional peace

[6 August 2022 11:41 · Vishwam Sankaran]

Taiwan dispatches patrols around island, accusing China of ‘simulated attack’

Taiwan’s armed forces have reportedly issued an alert and dispatched air and naval patrols around the island.

The island has activated land-based missile systems in response to the situation, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence.

The ministry tweeted that the island’s armed forces are watching over the surrounding waters in response to the recent military drills.