Why do the Chinese launch most of their rockets so far from the coast?

Question

We know that launching rockets near the coast is safe for human settlement areas in case a failure occurs. But, why does China launch its rockets so far from the coast (near hills)? Many launch sites of China like Xichang, Taiyuan, Jiuquan lie far from the Pacific Ocean except Wenchang. Is there any benefits of launching rockets far away from ocean?

In 2015, part of a booster of a Long March 4C rocket struck a house in Shanxi after a launch from the Taiyuan facility, cutting a sizable hole into the roof. In 1996, a Long March rocket carrying a U.S.-manufactured satellite crashed into a hillside 22 seconds after liftoff at Xichang. Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency, reported that the accident killed six people and injured 57, but some suspect the toll was much higher.

So if launching rockets over land can be so dangerous, why did China build its facilities so far inland?

Perhaps this has something to do with China's geopolitical issues.

Note: I am aware that my question isn't the same as this and this.

Answer 1

The reason why the launch sites are built inland goes back to the Cold War.

Western commentators have expressed surprise at the selection of a launch site so far inland, in difficult terrain, with poor communication facilities in a relatively populated rural area. The Chinese subsequently explained that during the tense seventies, an inland site was preferred, because coastal sites, though more southerly, were vulnerable to attack by China's enemies. Brian Harvey

Basically the launch sites were built inland to reduce the potential for combatants to target and destroy the facilities. As a result the architecture to support the Long March 2, 3 and 4 is all on inland launch sites and they currently account for most Chinese launches. However nowadays, since China don't have to worry as much about that, we've seen the construction of the cryogenic fuel Wenchang launch site on the coast, designed to launch the Long March 5, 7, 8 and 9. The Long March 7 is designed to replace the Long March 2, 3 and 4 launches, becoming the China launcher workhorse and accounting for 70% of all launches. This will remove the need for most inland launch sites launches, but until the Long March 7 is launching at a high rate, we will continue to see flights from inland.