Taiwan said two missiles were fired near the Matsu Islands off the coast of China at around 2:00 p.m. (6 a.m. GMT), according to a Taiwanese internal security report confirmed by Reuters. China’s military has launched an unprecedented battle that is set to last until midday Saturday as Beijing steps up its campaign of intimidation against the self-ruled island following a visit by Nancy Pelosi. Taiwan’s defense ministry said it was closely monitoring. “The Ministry of National Defense emphasizes that it will maintain the principle of preparing for war without seeking war and with an attitude of not escalating conflict and causing discord,” it said in a statement. Multiple drills have been taking place since noon on Thursday in six areas, according to the PLA. The live-fire air and naval drills, some of which are in Taiwan’s air and sea space, began hours after the speaker of the House of Representatives left Taiwan on Wednesday, making the first visit by a senior US politician to the country. island at 25 years old. The drills will use some of China’s most advanced weapons, including DF-17 hypersonic missiles and J-20 stealth fighter jets, according to a report in the state-run Global Times newspaper. “The drills are unprecedented as PLA conventional missiles are expected to fly over the island of Taiwan for the first time,” the paper said. China’s exercises amount to a de facto blockade of the island, Taiwan’s defense ministry has claimed.