This is the first time that Chinese missiles have fallen into Japan’s EEZ, Kishi said in a news conference at the defence ministry here.

“We strongly condemn this grave matter involving Japan’s national security and the safety of its people,” he said.

The missiles were launched during military exercises conducted by China around Taiwan following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei. Japan confirmed nine launches in total from around 3pm to after 4pm.

Kishi called the drills “highly coercive.”

“Japan will make every effort to gather and analyse intelligence and maintain vigilance and surveillance,” the defence minister said.

Japanese vice foreign affairs minister Takeo Mori called Chinese Ambassador Kong Xuanyou to lodge a protest over the launches and urge an immediate halt to the exercises.