Taiwanese phones receive a safety alert following a China satellite launch

Beijing: On Tuesday, days before Taiwan’s self-ruled island holds a vital presidential election that has raised security concerns around the region, a Chinese satellite launch activated the island’s emergency phone alert system.

The “Einstein Probe satellite using the Long March-2C carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre” was successfully launched, according to Chinese official media.
The launch was a “complete success,” according to CCTV, which also stated that “the satellite entered its designated orbit.”

In Taiwan, emergency alerts rang on phones all around the island at roughly the same moment.

The notice stated in Chinese, “China launched (a) satellite which flew over the southern airspace.” “Public, please beware of your safety.”

It was labeled as a “air raid alert” and warned of a “missile flyover Taiwan airspace” in the English portion of the message.

Prior to Saturday’s election, Taiwan’s international Minister Joseph Wu was in Taipei for a news conference with international reporters when the notice was sent out.

Reportedly, he gave reporters his word that it was a satellite, adding that the notice had been sent out due to potential “debris”.

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

This is the rationale for the alert that our national alert center will be sending out. It has already occurred.”

Voters will select a new leader to guide the island in the face of a more aggressive Beijing in this Saturday’s election, which will be carefully monitored from Beijing to Washington.

Taiwan’s current vice president, Lai Ching-te, who is the front-runner, accused Beijing of employing “all means” to sway Saturday’s vote.

China has sent in fighter planes, navy boats, and drones to maintain an almost constant military presence surrounding Taiwan.

Taiwan’s defense ministry reported that four balloons sailed over the island on Monday, marking the latest intrusion. Ten Chinese jets and four navy vessels were also sighted.

The satellite will be used to undertake astronomical studies, namely of “mysterious transient phenomena in the universe comparable to the flickering of fireworks,” according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.