We must contest Chinese missiles over Taiwan- US commander

A senior US military officer has stated that China’s decision to launch missiles over Taiwan must be disputed.

Vice Admiral Karl Thomas, commander of the Seventh Fleet, described China’s actions as “a gorilla in the room” if they weren’t stopped.

This month, Beijing conducted military exercises around the autonomous island, though it did not confirm whether any missiles actually flew over it.

After US lawmaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August, tensions skyrocketed.

Beijing, which asserts sovereignty over the island, was incensed by her high-profile visit.

Tuesday’s comments by Vice Admiral Thomas are significant, Based in Yokosuka, Japan, the Seventh Fleet is the largest forward-­deployed fleet in the US Navy, with some 50 to 70 vessels and submarines – and is a key part of its military presence in the region.

“It’s very important that we contest this type of thing. I know that the gorilla in the room is launching missiles over Taiwan,” Vice Admiral Thomas told reporters in Singapore. “It’s irresponsible to launch missiles over Taiwan into international waters.

“If you don’t challenge it… all of a sudden it can become just like the islands in the South China Sea [that] have now become military outposts. They now are full functioning military outposts that have missiles on them, large runways, hangers, radars, listening posts.”

China’s decision to conduct nearly a week of military drills in the waters around Taiwan disrupted major shipping and aerial routes – a move the island said effectively amounted to a blockade. It also accused Beijing of using the drills as practice for an invasion.

Taiwan said the missiles China fired flew high into the atmosphere and posed no threat. Its defense ministry did not disclose the trajectory of the missiles, citing intelligence concerns.

The Japanese embassy in Washington said it believed four missiles fired by China had passed over Taiwan’s capital Taipei.

In recent years it has also become yet another flashpoint between Washington and Beijing as tensions between the two soured.