Taiwan’s government apologized Tuesday after a poor translation in the country’s emergency alert system misidentified a Chinese satellite launch as a missile to English users.
The alert sounded on Taiwanese phones as usual on Tuesday afternoon, but warned of a “missile overflight” in the English translation. Taiwan later said that the Chinese satellite had already left the atmosphere when it reached Taiwanese airspace.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense apologized for the error and said it was the first time the country had issued an alert over the launch of a Chinese satellite.
Tensions between China and Taiwan continue to rise as elections in Taiwan are just days away. Residents will vote for a new president and legislators on January 13. Vice President Lai Ching-te, a candidate who favors independence from China, is leading in the polls.
CHINA TELLS TAIWAN TO VOTE FOR THE ‘RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY’ IN ELECTION THAT COULD DETERMINE CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS
Taiwan’s government apologized Tuesday after a poor translation in the country’s emergency alert system misidentified a Chinese satellite launch as a missile to English users. (Tommy Walker/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
China has repeatedly put pressure on Taiwan as the election approaches. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported last week the presence of multiple Chinese spy flights in the airspace over the island.
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A single spy flight was detected crossing the island on January 1, followed by three more the next day.
Defense Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Sun Li-fang told reporters that the spy flight appears to be built to collect atmospheric data, but it is unknown if it has other functions.
Taiwan Air Force soldiers load US-made AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles on a combat readiness mission during an invited press event at an air base in Hualien, Taiwan. (Reuters/Ann Wang)
Sun said the government “is closely monitoring and controlling the situation, taking appropriate measures and summarizing its flight routes for judgment and analysis,” according to The Wall Street Journal.
CHINA’S XI JINPING SAYS TAIWAN ‘SURE TO BE REUNIFIED’ IN YEAR-END SPEECH
Chinese leader Xi Jinping also declared that Taiwan will “surely be reunified” with the mainland during his year-end speech on New Year’s Eve.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping declared that Taiwan will “surely be reunified” with the mainland during his year-end speech on New Year’s Eve. (Florence Lo – Pool/Getty Images)
“All Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait must be united by a common sense of purpose and share the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” Xi said in a speech.
“The homeland will surely be reunified,” he added.
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Taiwan split from mainland China in 1949, when democratic forces fled there after losing a civil war against the Chinese Communist Party.
Fox News’ Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report
