China Satellite Triggers Alert in Taiwan, As It Flies Over the Island

Taiwan authorities said on Tuesday that a Chinese satellite had flown over southern Taiwan’s airspace.

Mobile phone users across Taiwan received an air raid alert warning them to be aware of their safety.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said the satellite was launched off the Xichang satellite launch center in China‘s Sichuan province at 15:03 local time.

Chinese broadcaster CCTV confirmed a satellite named Einstein probe had been launched from the center.

Taiwan said its defense ministry is tracking the trajectory of the satellite to appropriately alert and respond to the situation.

Taiwanese media say this is the first time its government has flashed an island-wide alert of this nature.

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In December, Taiwanese media had also reported on Chinese carrier rockets passing over the island.

Chinese state news agency Xinhua said China had launched a new astronomical satellite called the Einstein Probe from the southwestern province of Sichuan.

The satellite will be used to make observations such as mysterious transient phenomena in the universe comparable to the flickering of fireworks.

China has had a near-daily military presence around Taiwan in the run-up to the election, with fighter jets, naval vessels, and drones spotted in or above the narrow stretch of water dividing the pair.

Frontrunner Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s current vice president, has accused Beijing of using all means to influence the vote.

China has described the election as a choice between war and peace.