“He [Partido Comunista Chino] deliberately created tensions in the Taiwan Strait, which (…) has a negative impact on the security and economic development of the international community,” the ministry said, adding that the number of warships detected as of 4:00 p.m. (08:00 a.m. GMT) had risen to nine, along with 71 military aircraft.
China kicked off three days of military exercises around Taiwan on Saturday, including the rehearsal of “a total siege” of the self-governing island, after the meeting of its president with the leader of the US House of Representatives.
The moves “serve as a stark warning against collusion between separatist forces seeking ‘Taiwan independence’ and outside forces,” a military spokesman, Shi Yin, said in a statement.
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“Today’s exercise focuses on the ability to take control of the sea, airspace and information […] to create a deterrence and a total encirclement” of Taiwan, said Chinese state television, CCTV.
According to television, destroyer ships, fast missile launchers, fighters and tankers will be deployed during the maneuvers.
China began three days of military exercises around Taiwan on Saturday, including testing “a total siege” of the self-ruled island, after its president met with the leader of the US House of Representatives.
The moves “serve as a stark warning against collusion between separatist forces seeking ‘Taiwan independence’ and outside forces,” a military spokesman, Shi Yin, said in a statement.
“Today’s exercise focuses on the ability to take control of the sea, airspace and information […] to create a deterrence and a total encirclement” of Taiwan, said Chinese state television, CCTV.
According to television, destroyers, fast missile ships, fighters and tankers will be deployed during the exercises.
China began three days of military exercises around Taiwan on Saturday, including testing “a total siege” of the self-ruled island, after its president met with the leader of the US House of Representatives.
The moves “serve as a stark warning against collusion between separatist forces seeking ‘Taiwan independence’ and outside forces,” a military spokesman, Shi Yin, said in a statement.
“Today’s exercise focuses on the ability to take control of the sea, airspace and information […] to create a deterrence and a total encirclement” of Taiwan, said Chinese state television, CCTV.
According to television, destroyers, fast missile ships, fighters and tankers will be deployed during the exercises.
The exact location of these operations has not been disclosed, but on Monday they will involve live-fire firing off the coast of Fujian province, just off Taiwan, the regional maritime authority said in a statement.
The narrowest part of the Taiwan Strait between the Chinese mainland and the island is about 130 km wide.
The announcement comes after a meeting Wednesday in California between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Shortly after the controversial meeting, Beijing warned that it would take “firm and effective measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
China views this island of democratic rule as part of its territory, and opposes any contact between the Taiwanese leadership and representatives of other countries.
For the Taiwan Ministry of Defense, the Chinese exercises “seriously undermine peace, stability and security in the region.”
President Tsai in turn denounced Beijing’s “continued authoritarian expansionism”.
– “Combat Readiness” –
After two days of deploying aircraft and ships near the island, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army announced “a combat readiness exercise in the Taiwan Strait” from April 8 to 10.
The Taiwanese ministry noted that 8 Chinese warships and 42 Chinese warplanes were detected around its territory on Saturday morning.
beijing
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AFP
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Saturday 04/08/2023 – 04:24 UTC-4
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653 words
UPDATE WITH INFORMATION FROM STATE TELEVISION ABOUT MILITARY EXERCISES, STATEMENTS FROM PINGTAN
China began three days of military exercises around Taiwan on Saturday, including testing “a total siege” of the self-ruled island, after its president met with the leader of the US House of Representatives.
The moves “serve as a stark warning against collusion between separatist forces seeking ‘Taiwan independence’ and outside forces,” a military spokesman, Shi Yin, said in a statement.
“Today’s exercise focuses on the ability to take control of the sea, airspace and information […] to create a deterrence and a total encirclement” of Taiwan, said Chinese state television, CCTV.
According to television, destroyers, fast missile ships, fighters and tankers will be deployed during the exercises.
The exact location of these operations has not been disclosed, but on Monday they will involve live-fire firing off the coast of Fujian province, just off Taiwan, the regional maritime authority said in a statement.
The narrowest part of the Taiwan Strait between the Chinese mainland and the island is about 130 km wide.
The announcement comes after a meeting Wednesday in California between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Shortly after the controversial meeting, Beijing warned that it would take “firm and effective measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
China views this island of democratic rule as part of its territory, and opposes any contact between the Taiwanese leadership and representatives of other countries.
For the Taiwan Ministry of Defense, the Chinese exercises “seriously undermine peace, stability and security in the region.”
President Tsai in turn denounced Beijing’s “continued authoritarian expansionism”.
– “Combat Readiness” –
After two days of deploying aircraft and ships near the island, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army announced “a combat readiness exercise in the Taiwan Strait” from April 8 to 10.
The Taiwanese ministry noted that 8 Chinese warships and 42 Chinese warplanes were detected around its territory on Saturday morning.
However, in the closest place in mainland China to Taiwan, the island of Pingtan, tourists seemed oblivious to the events, taking portraits facing the sea where merchandise ships still circulated.
“I saw the news, but this is not going to spoil our plans for today,” said Wu, in her 30s, as she walked along a seafront with her partner.
Another woman, in her 20s and who did not give her name, said she had not heard of the exercises. “What situation? It’s okay,” she said.
China already carried out military maneuvers around the island in August 2022, in response to the visit to Taipei by Nancy Pelosi, McCarthy’s predecessor as head of the House of Representatives.
The current leader of the lower house of the US legislature also wanted to travel to the island, but finally opted for a meeting with Tsai in California to the anger of Beijing.
The Taiwanese leader made a stopover there after visiting Guatemala and Belize, two of the last official allies of the island, which recently lost Honduras to Beijing.
Right now, only 13 countries recognize Taipei. Among them is not the United States, which, however, is one of its main allies and arms supplier.
Back in Taipei, Tsai said Saturday that Taiwan “will continue to work with the United States and other like-minded countries to jointly uphold the values of freedom and democracy.”
The day before, the spokeswoman for Chinese diplomacy, Mao Ning, had said that “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China.”
