China continues its military maneuvers around Taiwan

China is staging live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait on Monday, the third day of “all round” drills to protest its president’s meeting with a senior US official.

Over the weekend, warplanes and warships conducted simulated targeted bombing of the island as part of an operation dubbed “Joint Sword” and condemned by Taiwan. The US called on Beijing to “rein in”. The ideal? Simulate the “total encirclement” of the 23 million-strong area claimed by Beijing.

“Simulated Strikes”

Taiwan’s defense ministry said on Monday it had spotted 11 Chinese warships and 59 aircraft around the island. The ministry said the Chinese military was “continuing to carry out military exercises around Taiwan”, adding that fighters and bombers were among the devices spotted at 10:00 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. Swiss time). China is trying to simulate a “lockdown” of Taiwan with its military tests on Monday, according to a statement from the Chinese military. Dozens of planes have been grounded to enforce an “aerial blockade” of territory claimed by Beijing, state broadcaster CCTV added.

China, for its part, said it had mobilized warplanes “carrying live ammunition” and its aircraft carrier Shandong to carry out “simulated attacks” near Taiwan. “Several squadrons of H-6K fighter jets carrying live munitions conducted several simulated strikes on critical targets on Taiwan Island,” the military said, according to state broadcaster CCTV, Eastern Theater Command. Day”. China is trying to simulate a “lockdown” of Taiwan with its military tests on Monday, according to a statement from the Chinese military.

For its part, the US destroyer USS Milius on Monday conducted a “freedom of navigation operation” in an area of ​​the South China Sea claimed by Beijing. “This free navigation operation respects the rights, liberties and lawful uses of the sea,” the US Navy said in a statement, adding that the ship had passed near the Spratly Islands. The vessel came within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of Mischief Reef, which is claimed by China and other countries in the region.

“Authoritarian Expansion”

On Sunday, the Chinese military simulated ‘precision strikes’ against ‘key targets on Taiwan Island and the surrounding waters’, including dozens of aircraft and ground forces, state television reported. A close encirclement of the island.”

The Air Force sent dozens of planes to “fly over target airspace,” and the Army began maneuvers for “precision firing at multiple targets,” according to the same source. On Saturday, President Tsai Ing-wen condemned China’s “authoritarian expansion” and pledged that Taiwan would “continue to work with the United States and other countries (…) to uphold the values ​​of freedom and democracy”.

The Chinese maneuvers began after the president’s meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last Wednesday. The US State Department on Saturday reiterated “no change in position”, while the Pentagon said it was “following developments closely”.

‘Severe Warning’

Live-fire drills will take place on Monday in the Taiwan Strait near the coast of Fujian (eastern) province, which faces the island, local Chinese maritime officials said. It is located 80 kilometers south of Matsu Archipelago and 190 kilometers from Taipei.

According to the same source, they will be held between 07:00 (01:00 Monday in Switzerland) and 20:00 (Monday), around Pingtan Island, between China and Taiwan. Chinese military spokesman Shi Yi warned that the maneuvers “are acting against serious warnings against collusion between Taiwan independence-seeking separatist forces and external forces and their provocative actions.”

On Sunday, Taiwan’s defense ministry said it had spotted 11 Chinese warships and 70 aircraft around the island, an armada similar to the one recorded on Saturday. According to data compiled by AFP, 45 flights crossed the median between Taiwan and mainland China on Saturday, the highest number since the start of the year. Over the weekend, the ministry detected around 150 Chinese boats and aircraft, including fighter jets, drones, bombers and transport vehicles.

(AFP)Show comments