China says it successfully launched a rocket carrying a weather satellite on Sunday morning.

Beijing imposed a no-fly zone over waters north of Taiwan. Japan and Taiwan remain on alert for debris that may fall from the craft.

Chinese authorities say the rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China. They say it was ferrying a meteorological satellite designed to observe rainfall amounts.

China notified Japan and Taiwan last week that it would impose a no-fly zone over waters north of Taiwan for about half an hour on Sunday. It cited its plan to conduct aerospace activities in the area.

China also announced a ban on the navigation of vessels in designated waters north of Taiwan for six hours on Sunday. It said that rocket parts could fall into the area during those hours.

Japan called on China to prevent any impact on ships and aircraft, saying the designated areas overlap some waters in Japan's exclusive economic zone, and skies above it.

Last year, objects that may have been from Chinese rockets were spotted off Philippine islands facing the South China Sea.