BEIJING

A Chinese satellite launch triggered Taiwan’s emergency cellphone alert system on Tuesday, days earlier than the self-ruled island holds a vital presidential election that has heightened safety worries across the area.

Chinese state media stated that Beijing had efficiently launched the “Einstein Probe satellite using the Long March-2C carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre”.

“The satellite entered its designated orbit,” CCTV reported, including that the launch was a “complete success”.

Around the identical time in Taiwan, telephones throughout the island sounded with an emergency alert.

“China launched a satellite tv for pc which flew over the southern airspace,” stated the alert in Chinese. “Public, please beware of your safety.”

However the English a part of the message described it as an “air raid alert”, warning of a “missile flyover Taiwan airspace”.

The alert got here as Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu was holding a press convention with international reporters in Taipei forward of Saturday’s election.

He assured reporters that it was a satellite tv for pc, explaining that the alert was issued due to doable “debris”.

“When a rocket is openly flying in our sky, some of their tubes or debris will fall in this region,” Wu informed reporters.

“That’s the reason why our national alert centre will issue this kind of alert. It has happened before.”

Saturday’s election can be carefully watched from Beijing to Washington as voters select a brand new chief to steer the island within the face of an more and more assertive Beijing.

Front-runner Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s present vp, accused Beijing of utilizing “all means” to affect Saturday’s vote.

China has maintained a near-daily navy presence round Taiwan, sending in fighter jets, naval vessels and drones.

The newest incursion got here Monday when 4 balloons flew over the island, in response to Taiwan’s defence ministry, whereas 10 Chinese warplanes and 4 naval vessels have been additionally noticed.

China’s state-run Xinhua information company stated the satellite tv for pc can be used to make astronomical observations, particularly “mysterious transient phenomena in the universe comparable to the flickering of fireworks”