Key Facts
• On December 30 morning, loud booms echoed in Pingtan, Fuzhou, across from Taiwan.
• Multiple flying objects, likely Chinese military rockets, launched toward Taiwan.
• Military exercises around Taiwan entered second day, about one hour after start.
• Distance from Pingtan to Taiwan is approximately 120 kilometers.
• Tourist site “68 Nautical Miles Scenic Area” delayed opening from 8 a.m. to noon.
• Security staff cited undisclosed reasons for opening time change.
• Similar missile-like flashes and explosions observed in Pingtan during exercises three years ago.
• Local vendor expressed fear over repeated military drills and impact on tourism business.
Summary
On December 30, the city of Pingtan in Fuzhou, China, located about 120 kilometers from Taiwan, was shaken by loud explosions as Chinese military rockets were launched toward Taiwan during ongoing military exercises. The drills, marking their second day, caused visible white smoke trails and stirred unease among residents and tourists. The local tourist attraction “68 Nautical Miles Scenic Area” postponed its usual 8 a.m. opening to noon, with staff unable to disclose reasons. Witnesses, including a visitor from Hunan Province, reported surprise at the sudden explosions, feeling the Taiwan issue more personally. Similar military activity was noted in Pingtan three years prior, with locals expressing fear and concern over the impact on tourism and hoping for peaceful relations with Taiwan.
