Taiwan's defense ministry has announced that a Chinese rocket carrying a satellite flew over Taiwan on Tuesday afternoon, and issued alerts to residents.

The ministry said the rocket flew over southern Taiwan after taking off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province.

Around the same time, China's state-run Central Television reported that a satellite-mounted rocket was launched from the center.

The ministry said the rocket flew above the atmosphere. It also said a warning system was activated based on information, including the rocket's trajectory, obtained by Taiwan's military.

About 10 minutes after the launch, warning messages and alarms were sent at least twice to Taiwan residents' mobile phones.

The messages were in Chinese and English. The Chinese version mentioned a "satellite launch," and the English one a "missile launch." The ministry called the discrepancy a "careless" mistake. No serious confusion was reported among residents.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen was visiting the southern city of Kaohsiung when the alerts were issued. Taiwan's TVBS television reported that Tsai, with a smile, urged people not to worry.

TVBS also reported that when the defense ministry said last month that China carried out several satellite launches, no such alerts were issued.