The Taiwan government has condemned China's recent test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean.

Taiwan described the move as “an attempt to undermine regional peace and stability.”

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) successfully fired an intercontinental ballistic missile at 8:44am on Wednesday, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said in a statement posted to social media later that day as quoted by Taipei Times.

The missile carried a simulated warhead and landed in international waters, the statement said.

Taiwan has condemned the test.

The Presidential Office said in a statement that the launch was a Chinese attempt to undermine regional peace and stability, reported Taipei Times.

It even directed China to exercise self-restraint.

What is the basis of China’s claim over Taiwan?

The basis of China’s claim over Taiwan dates back to 1945 when Japan lost its control over the island in 1945,post-World War Two.

The 1949 Chinese civil war led to communists taking control and Chiang Kai-shek the one who lost fled to Taiwan. He ruled it for many decades. This is where China’s claim to Taiwan emanates.

The very fact that Chiang Kai-shek came to Taiwan and was not indigenous to the place is Taiwan’s argument against the claim.

Why is Taiwan important to China?

“A lot of things actually, which of course are related to Taiwan but not necessarily direct to Taiwan. It's more about (China's) relationship changing with the United States – or we should say Western Countries, mainly the United States and China. Taiwan then happens to become a key player and main actor in this dynamics,” said Alice.

100 miles from the coast of China, Taiwan is an island, that is located in the “first island chain,” this positioning makes it crucial to the US foreign policy.

US-Sino relations hinge on, ‘One China Policy,’ it acknowledges that, “there is only one Chinese Government." The US recognises its formal ties with China. With Taiwan the US shares independent strong “unofficial” relations.