"The Ministry of National Defence stated that the Chinese Communist Party fired multiple Dongfeng series ballistic missiles into the surrounding waters of northeastern and southwestern Taiwan from approximately 13:56 this afternoon," the defence ministry said in a brief statement.

Taiwan's military did not confirm the precise location of where the missiles landed or whether they flew over the island.

China's People's Liberation Army also confirmed missiles had been fired.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman of the Eastern Theater Command, said Chinese forces had launched "a multi-regional and multi-model conventional missile firepower assault on predetermined waters off the eastern part of Taiwan Island".

"All the missiles hit the target accurately, testing the strike precision and area denial capabilities," Colonel Shi added.