Tension around the self-governed Taiwan soared to higher levels on Thursday after the Chinese military reportedly fired ballistic missiles on the waters around it amid intense live-fire exercises as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) encircled the island from six directions.

The Chinese military, however, did not share details but reports from Taiwan said among the missiles fired were PLA’s nuclear-capable Dongfeng.

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The Chinese military drills, which has been taking place since August 2, intensified on Thursday noon as Beijing continues to fume over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei earlier this week.

China has claimed Taiwan as its own territory and has not ruled out the use of force to merge it with the mainland.

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A Chinese media report said the ongoing drills, the largest ever around the Taiwan Strait, is part of a “rehearsal” for the reunification process.

The Taiwanese military closely monitored the path of the Dongfeng missiles soon after they were fired by the PLA’s eastern command’s rocket division.

On Thursday, China’s state broadcaster CCTV announced the start of the drills, adding that the exercises would end at 0400 GMT on Sunday.

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According to CCTV, the exercise, led by the navy and air force, would include live firing on the waters and in the airspace surrounding Taiwan.

“The exercises involved troops from the Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force and Logistic Support Force under the Eastern Theatre Command,” official news agency, Xinhua, said in a report on Thursday.

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Meanwhile, Global Times said, “Video clips taken by netizens soon circulated on social media showing that long-range rockets were fired from Pingtan, eastern China’s Fujian province, only 125 kilometres away from the island of Taiwan.”

This means that the missiles, likely fired from the Chinese mainland, have flown over the sky above Taiwan, anonymous observers told the tabloid.

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The Chinese side is strongly displeased with the joint statement put out by G7 nations – including Japan – about Taiwan, Hua said at the ministry briefing on Thursday, adding that Tokyo has no right to make irresponsible remarks on Taiwan.