Chinese satellite launch triggers alarm in Taiwan | Science and Technology News

The alert warns of a ‘missile flyover Taiwan’; nonetheless, Taiwan’s overseas minister assures folks it was a satellite tv for pc.

Taiwanese authorities have despatched out an emergency message following the launch of a Chinese language satellite tv for pc over the island’s airspace.

The cell phone alert was despatched on Tuesday as Chinese language state media confirmed the launch of a science satellite tv for pc. The alarm got here amid preparations in Taiwan for elections subsequent week. China, which claims the island as its personal, is watching carefully and warns that the consequence might additional elevate tension within the Taiwan Strait.

“China launched [a] satellite tv for pc which flew over the southern airspace,” mentioned the alert despatched out in Chinese language. “Public, please watch out for your security.”

An English-language model introduced it as an “air raid alert” and warned of a “missile flyover Taiwan airspace”.

Nevertheless, the defence ministry later apologised for the error, saying the default message in English had not been up to date.

The alert got here as Overseas Minister Joseph Wu was holding a information convention in Taipei forward of the presidential and parliamentary elections on Saturday.

He assured these current that the alert was for a satellite tv for pc.

“When a rocket is overtly flying in our sky, a few of their tubes or particles will fall on this area,” Wu instructed reporters. “That’s the explanation why our nationwide alert centre will subject this type of alert. It has occurred earlier than.”

Chinese language state information company Xinhua mentioned China had launched “a brand new astronomical satellite tv for pc” known as the Einstein Probe from the southwestern province of Sichuan.

The satellite tv for pc will probably be used to make observations comparable to “mysterious transient phenomena within the universe similar to the flickering of fireworks”.

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

Frontrunner Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s present vice chairman, has accused Beijing of utilizing “all means” to affect the vote.

China has described the election as a alternative between struggle and peace.