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Chinese Satellite Launch Triggers Island-Wide Alert in Taiwan

by VOA News

   China says it successfully launched a science satellite into orbit
   Tuesday, an event that triggered an island-wide alert in Taiwan.

   Chinese state-run news outlets said an astronomical satellite dubbed
   the Einstein Probe was launched from a spaceport in southwestern
   Sichuan province.

   Taiwan's defense ministry issued an alert in English Tuesday afternoon
   describing the launch as a missile flyover. The alert was issued as
   Foreign Minister Joseph Wu was holding a news briefing with several
   foreign journalists.

   Tuesday's satellite launch comes just four days before voters on the
   self-ruled islands go to the polls to choose a new president and
   members of parliament.

   Taiwan's defense ministry has accused China of flying dozens of
   high-altitude balloons over its airspace since December, threatening
   civil aviation and waging psychological warfare ahead of Saturday's
   election.

   China considers Taiwan a breakaway province, and has vowed to annex the
   island by any means, including military invasion.

   Some information for this report came from The Associated Press,
   Reuters, Agence France-Presse.