China fired multiple ballistic missiles at Taiwan this morning, four of which flew directly over the capital Taipei in an unprecedented escalation, as it continues its largest-ever military exercises in the seas and skies surrounding the self-ruled island. The country also imposed sanctions on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her close family members in response to her “evil” and “provocative” visit to Taiwan, China’s foreign ministry said. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken criticized China’s military exercises, saying there was no justification for Beijing’s “grossly disproportionate and escalating” response. He said China’s military exercises around Taiwan and missile launches into Japan’s exclusive economic zone represented a “significant escalation”. The statement came as Ms Pelosi reiterated America’s support for Taiwan, saying China would not be able to isolate the island by preventing US officials from traveling there. Ms. Pelosi, who is in Japan today for the final leg of her Asia tour, added, however, that her trip to the region was “not intended to change the status quo in Taiwan.”

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China vows to take more countermeasures over Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan

China’s foreign ministry said it would take more countermeasures over Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan earlier this week. The announcement came as China confirmed it had halted dialogue with the US on climate change, military issues and anti-drug work in retaliation. A television (top) at a restaurant in Hong Kong on August 5, 2022, shows a missile being fired during military exercises conducted by China around the island of Taiwan (AFP via Getty Images) Namita Singh August 5, 2022 11:31 am 1659694695

Beijing halts high-level military dialogue with US, suspends other cooperation

Beijing said it was halting cooperation with America in several areas, including dialogue between top military commanders, in retaliation for a visit this week to Taiwan by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. China’s foreign ministry also said in a statement that it was suspending climate talks with the US, as well as cooperation on cross-border crime prevention and the repatriation of illegal immigrants, among eight specific measures. Namita Singh August 5, 2022 11:18 am 1659694115

China summons Canadian diplomat over G7 statement on Taiwan

China’s foreign ministry said it summoned Beijing-based Canadian diplomat Jim Nickell over Canada’s involvement in a statement issued by the Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers. It is the latest in a series of diplomatic complaints by Beijing after the G7 called on China on Wednesday to resolve the tension around the Taiwan Strait peacefully. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng called on Mr. Nickel yesterday and urged Canada to “immediately correct its mistakes” on the Taiwan issue or “face all the consequences,” according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement released today. Namita Singh August 5, 2022 11:08 am 1659694079

China sends 100 warplanes to exercise in Taiwan

More than 100 warplanes and 10 warships took part in live-fire military exercises around Taiwan over the past two days, China said today. The official Xinhua news agency said fighters, bombers, destroyers and frigates were all used in what it called “joint blockade operations” taking place in six zones off the coast of Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. The military’s Eastern Theater Command also launched new versions of missiles it said hit unidentified targets in the Taiwan Strait “accurately.” Three French-made Mirage 2000 fighter jets taxi on a runway in front of a hangar at Hsinchu Air Base in Hsinchu on August 5, 2022 (AFP via Getty Images) These included missiles fired over Taiwan in the Pacific, military officers told state media, in a major escalation of Chinese threats to annex the island by force. The drills, which Xinhua described as being conducted on an “unprecedented scale,” are China’s response to a visit this week by Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. Namita Singh August 5, 2022 11:07 am 1659693893

Full story: How airlines are canceling and changing flights amid Chinese drills

Several airlines canceled or changed flights to Taipei this week as China conducts its unprecedented military exercises around Taiwan. Read the details in this report from my colleague Lucy Thackray:

Flights were canceled or rerouted amid China’a missile exercises near Taiwan

Several airlines canceled or changed flights this week as China conducted military exercises off the coast near Taiwan. Namita Singh August 5, 2022 11:04 am 1659692678

China fires ballistic missiles directly over Taipei in major escalation

China fired multiple ballistic missiles at Taiwan on Friday morning, four of which flew over the capital Taipei in an unprecedented escalation, as it continues to hold its largest-ever military exercises in the seas and skies surrounding the self-ruled island. Taiwan’s defense ministry confirmed the missile launch over its airspace in the capital, but added that the missiles were high in the atmosphere and did not pose a threat. Officials have not released details of the flight paths due to intelligence concerns. The missile launch was confirmed by Japan’s defense ministry, which also said four missiles flew over Taipei. Tokyo, which is monitoring the military drills that Beijing said would last until Sunday, said five of the nine missiles fired at its territory landed in its exclusive economic zone. My colleague Arpan Rai reports:

China fires ballistic missiles directly over Taipei in major escalation

Taiwan says China’s missiles were high in the atmosphere and posed no threat Namita Singh August 5, 2022 10:44 am 1659692597

White House summons Chinese ambassador to reprimand Taiwan response – report

The White House summoned Chinese Ambassador Qin Gang yesterday to condemn Beijing’s escalating actions against Taiwan and reiterate that the US does not want a crisis in the region, the Washington Post reported. “Following China’s actions overnight, we have summoned Ambassador Qin Gang to the White House to be briefed on (China’s) provocative actions,” White House spokesman John Kirby said. National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby answers questions during the daily briefing at the White House on August 4, 2022 in Washington, DC (Getty Images) China itself has imposed sanctions on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her close family members in response to her “evil” and “provocative” actions, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. Namita Singh August 5, 2022 10:43 am 1659690390

Analysis: Japanese support for military build-up likely to increase after China’s missiles

China’s missile launch into waters less than 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Japan in a show of force after Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan is likely to boost public support for a military build-up aimed at defending against its big neighbor Japan. “It clearly shows that if something happens with Taiwan we will be affected,” said Taro Kono, a senior lawmaker in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and former foreign and defense minister. “The tide has clearly turned in Japan,” he added, when asked if the public would support higher military spending. A US-made C-130 aircraft prepares to land on a runway at Hsinchu Air Base in Hsinchu on August 5, 2022 (AFP via Getty Images) Defense is a divisive issue in Japan, which, as a legacy of World War II, has a pacifist constitution and an enduring public wariness about engaging in US-led wars. China’s unprecedented missile launches into Japan’s exclusive economic zone came as Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government prepares to release a defense budget request for a major spending increase this month. “The military balance has changed a lot around Taiwan,” said retired Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, who served as chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces for five years until 2019. “I hope the defense budget discussions will get serious.” Namita Singh August 5, 2022 10:06 am 1659689580

China punishes the speaker of the US House

China announced unspecified sanctions on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her visit earlier this week to Taiwan. A statement from China’s foreign ministry said today that Ms Pelosi ignored China’s concerns and its firm opposition to her visit to the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims. The Chinese statement called Ms. Pelosi’s visit provocative and said it undermined China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. She said she and her family would face sanctions, but did not specify what they would be. Such sanctions are generally mostly symbolic in nature. Namita Singh August 5, 2022 9:53 am 1659686603

USA, Russia China participate in talks with countries of SE Asia

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met the foreign ministers of Russia and China in a meeting today with top diplomats from Southeast Asia at a time when world powers are beset by tensions. The East Asia Summit of the ongoing Association of Southeast Asian Nations meetings in the Cambodian capital was the first time the three men were to participate in the same forum. It came a day after WNBA star Brittney Griner was convicted of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison by Russia in a politically charged case amid contestations over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (L) and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (R) attend the East Asia Summit at the Foreign Ministers’ meeting during the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Phnom Penh on August 5, 2022. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images) China, meanwhile, has expressed anger over the US House…