China begins military drills around Taiwan, stern warning

China has issued a ‘stern warning’, launching military drills around Taiwan ahead of a meeting between the US House of Representatives speaker and Taiwan’s president.

According to the report of the French broadcasting agency “France 24”, China has started military exercises around Taiwan in view of the meeting between the President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen and the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy. Taiwan issued a ‘severe warning’ to the government.

The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command said in a statement that the operation, called ‘United Sharp Sword’, also includes a three-day encirclement exercise in Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s president immediately rejected the Chinese military exercise and reiterated his commitment to working with the United States and other like-minded countries in the face of continued authoritarian expansionism.

People’s Liberation Army spokesman Shi Yin said that China’s war drills will involve sending aircraft, ships and personnel to the eastern region, including the Taiwan Strait’s maritime areas, airspace, and the northern and southern coastal areas of the island.

China’s state-run CCTV said the task force would simultaneously patrol and advance around Taiwan where an all-encompassing perimeter and perimeter position would be established.

According to the report, China is adding heavy weapons to the exercise, including long-range rocket artillery, naval destroyers, missile boats, air force fighters, bombers, jammers and refuelers.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense released a video showing Chinese soldiers loading anti-aircraft missile launchers, taking off fighter jets and other military exercises.

The 75-second clip with English subtitles carried a caption saying ‘We neither want tension nor conflict, but we are steadfast and serious about defending our territory and sovereignty.’

The April 10 exercise will include live-fire drills off the coast of China’s Fujian province, the local maritime authority said.

It should be noted that such progress from China has come out when the speaker of the American House of Representatives met with the president of Taiwan in California.

China, recognizing Taiwan as its own, has vowed to take it one day, even if it has to be done by force.

The People’s Liberation Army said the military exercises were a strong warning against collusion and provocative activities between separatists and foreign forces seeking ‘Taiwan independence’.

The spokesman of the People’s Army added that such operations are necessary to secure China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said eight Chinese warships and 42 fighter jets were spotted around the island today.

Taiwan’s ministry strongly condemned such actions, saying it detected 29 jets entering Taiwan’s southwestern air defense identification zone, the highest number in a single day this year. .

The Ministry of Defense said that military exercises have been conducted by China under the pretext of the US visit by the country’s president, which has adversely affected peace, stability and security in the region.

It should be noted that after US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August last year, China had started a large number of military exercises in anticipation of a show of force.

The report said that the speaker of the US House of Representatives was to travel to Taiwan himself, but the decision to meet in California instead is being seen as a compromise that would support Taiwan but increase tensions with China. Giving will be avoided.

Taiwan’s president returned to Taiwan after meeting official diplomatic allies in Latin America, including two US officials, the House Speaker and other lawmakers.

Hours before the Taiwanese president met with US officials, China sent the ship Shandong to the western Pacific via Taiwan’s southeast coast.

China issued a warning for the meeting between the two heads of state, saying that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.