Taiwan Tati Cultural and Educational Foundation

 
  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
Home The News News China conducts ‘strike drills’ around Taiwan

China conducts ‘strike drills’ around Taiwan

Monday, 26 December 2022 07:27 Taipei Times

China’s military said it staged “strike drills” in the sea and airspace around Taiwan yesterday in response to an unspecified “provocation” by Taipei and Washington.

China staged war games around Taiwan in August following a visit to Taipei by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and on Saturday it condemned the US for a new defense authorization law that boosts military assistance for Taiwan.

In a brief statement, the Eastern Theater Command of China’s People’s Liberation Army said it had carried out “joint combat readiness patrols and joint firepower strike drills” around Taiwan, although it did not specify the exact location.

Fighter jets belonging to the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army conduct a joint combat training exercise around Taiwan on Aug. 7.

Photo: AP

“This is a resolute response to the current escalation of collusion and provocation from the United States and Taiwan,” it said, without giving details.

“Theater forces will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it added.

The Ministry of National Defense reported that eight Chinese military aircraft and three naval ships had been detected near Taiwan between 6am on Saturday and 6am yesterday.

Taiwanese fighter jets were deployed to warn the Chinese aircraft, and air defense missile systems were deployed to monitor the activities, it said.

The US is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties. US arms sales to Taiwan are a constant irritant in Beijing’s relations with Washington.

The Chinese drills coincided with newly elected city mayors and county leaders in Taiwan taking up their positions following last month’s local elections, in which the ruling Democratic Progressive Party was trounced.

China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.

Additional reporting by staff writer


Source: Taipei Times - 2022/12/26


Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
Reddit! Del.icio.us! Mixx! Google! Live! Facebook! StumbleUpon! Facebook! Twitter!  
 

Newsflash

Despite drizzling weather, more than 1,000 demonstrators rallied on Jinan Road outside the Legislative Yuan in Taipei last night to support calls for reforms to the nation’s electoral policies, while also expressing their dissatisfaction toward what they say is the government’s failure to respond to demands made during the Sunflower movement.

Entitled “Blasting Jinan Road with Roars of Anger” (怒吼炸濟南) to signify participants’ outrage, the rally was launched by a coalition of civic groups, including many youth political movements that bloomed after the Sunflower movement.