China holds large-scale military drills around Taiwan

The Chinese military held large-scale exercises around Taiwan as a “stern warning” to those seeking the island’s independence, increasing pressure after the territory’s president, Lai Ching-te, reiterated last week that the two sides They are not subordinate to each other.

The Chinese army, navy, air and rocket forces participated in the maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait and in areas to the north, south and east of the island, with the Liaoning aircraft carrier deployed to the east of the island.

The Eastern Theater Command, which oversees the strait, declared later in the day that it had successfully completed drills to fully test its troops’ integrated joint operations capabilities, adding that it will thwart separatist attempts at “Taiwan independence.” .

The military said the exercise was “a legitimate and necessary operation to safeguard state sovereignty and national unity.” It focused on maritime-air combat readiness patrols, blockades of ports and key areas, and assaults on maritime and land targets.

The Chinese move was immediately condemned by Taipei, and Lai’s office urged Beijing to refrain from further military provocations.

The president stated in a Facebook post that China intends to “undermine regional peace and stability and continue to use force to coerce neighboring countries.” He added that such a position does not conform to the expectations of the international community.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry condemned the drills as “irrational and provocative behavior” and said it had sent “appropriate troops” to protect the island’s “freedom, democracy and sovereignty.”

The Chinese Coast Guard also said four of its formations carried out patrols in waters around Taiwan on Monday, describing them as “a practical action to manage and control the island of Taiwan in accordance with the one-China principle.”

Taiwan’s ministry said it had detected a total of 125 Chinese aircraft, 17 warships, as well as 17 Chinese Coast Guard vessels and other government vessels, as of 4:30 p.m. The number of Chinese warplanes, including helicopters and drones, detected from around 5 a.m. was the highest ever recorded in a single day, he added.

China last held a large-scale military exercise around Taiwan after Lai, whom Beijing condemns as a separatist, took office in May. China views the self-ruled island as a renegade province that must be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Asked about the Chinese military exercise, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told reporters on Monday that Tokyo “will carefully monitor the situation and prepare to respond to any development.”

The United States said it is “seriously concerned” about the Chinese drills, adding that responding to an annual speech with “military provocations” is “unwarranted and risks escalation.”

Washington continues to monitor Chinese activities around the Strait and “coordinates with allies and partners our shared concerns,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning declared at a press conference in Beijing that the Taiwan issue is “a purely internal matter of China, which does not admit foreign interference.” He urged the United States to uphold the one-China principle and stop sending wrong signals to the island’s separatist forces.

On Thursday, Lai said he remains determined to “resist the annexation or usurpation” of Taiwan’s controversial status as a sovereign entity, in a speech marking the island’s National Day.

He also stated that China “has no right to represent Taiwan,” while seeking dialogue and exchanges with the mainland to “maintain the status quo” of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.