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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


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Newsflash


Workers yesterday tow away a truck that was driven through security obstacles and up the stairs of the main entrance of the Presidential Office earlier in the day in what police say was an intentional act.
Photo: Chen En-hui, Taipei Times

A driver rammed a large truck into the main gate of the Presidential Office yesterday morning, in what police have initially determined was an intentional act.

Chiehshou Police Station Chief Tsai Han-cheng (蔡漢政) said the driver has been identified as Chang Ter-cheng (張德正).

The incident — the most serious security breach to occur at the Presidential Office in years — took place at 5:05am when Chang drove a 35-tonne truck into the office, ramming through three layers of protective barriers and speeding up a flight of stairs before being stopped by a bulletproof door leading to the office’s main building, police said.