Taiwan began on Tuesday a mock defense of the island with real artillery fire following the huge military maneuvers carried out by China around its territory in recent days, reported an AFP journalist on the spot.
Lou Woei-jyespokesman for 8th Taiwan Army Corpsconfirmed that the exercises had started in the southern county of Pingtung shortly following 0040 GMT with the firing of flares and artillery.
The maneuvers were to end around 01:30 GMT, he added.
China launched its largest military exercises around Taiwan last week in response to the visit of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of USA, Nancy Pelosi, to this self-governing island for decades.
Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which considers this territory as its own province to recover one day, by force if necessary.
The Taiwanese exercises that will take place on Tuesday and Thursday will include the deployment of hundreds of troops and regarding 40 howitzers, the army said.
Lou said Monday that the exercises were already scheduled and were not a response to China’s moves.
This democratically governed island routinely conducts Chinese invasion drills and last month practiced repelling attacks by sea during its biggest annual exercises.
warnings
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinkdenounced on Saturday the “complete disproportion” of the Chinese reaction yeissued a joint statement with his Japanese and Australian counterparts in which he called on China to end the military exercises.
This Monday, Taiwan criticized China for prolonging its military exercises.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemn firmly China’s decision to extend its military exercises. China’s provocation and aggression have damaged the status quo across the Taiwan Strait and increased the tensions in the area,” the Taiwanese foreign ministry said in a statement.
In response to Pelosi’s visit, China suspended its cooperation with the United States in several key areas, including the fight once morest climate change and defense issues.
China is not far behind
China continued on Monday the military exercises regarding Taiwandefying calls from the West and Japan to end the largest military maneuvers in its history around the islandwhich it considers as part of its territory.
“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continued to execute practical joint exercises and training in the sea and airspace around the island of Taiwan, focusing on staging joint underwater and sea strike operations,” the Chinese Army’s Eastern Command said in a statement.
China began conducting live-fire exercises in six major areas around Taiwan on Thursdaythe day following the visit that the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosimade to the island.
The exercises were originally due to end at noon Sunday, 04:00 GMT, according to China’s maritime safety administration.
(AFP)