Politics

Chinese Army simulates attacks on Taiwan on second day of exercises

Beijing, Apr 9 (EFE).- Military exercises organized by China around Taiwan entered their second day Sunday, in which the Chinese Army “carried out simulated attacks on key targets on the island and in the surrounding waters.”

State broadcaster CCTV reported that the People’s Liberation Army “continued its pressure around the island” as part of the exercises, which will last until Monday.

The army’s Eastern Theater of Operations ordered “dozens” of raids by “early warning, reconnaissance, attack, bombing and jamming aircraft,” the channel said.

Army patrolmen “occupied attack positions” through “high-speed maneuvers.”

The Xuzhou frigate “carried out tactical operations” in waters east of Taiwan, the sauce reported, showing images of Chinese maritime and air forces in action.

Well-known journalist Hu Xijin said Saturday in the local newspaper Global Times that the maneuvers are “an explosion in the hearts and bowels of Taiwan separatists,” accusing the United States of “increasing arms sales and military aid” to the self-governing island.

China announced the military exercises Saturday in response to a Wednesday meeting in California between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

A military spokesman called the maneuvers “a serious warning” against “provocation by separatist forces” and a “necessary action to protect the national sovereignty and territorial integrity” of China.

Taiwan called the moves “an irrational act that endangers regional security and stability.”

The situation is reminiscent of that experienced in August, when the visit to Taiwan of the then-US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, angered Beijing, which responded with military maneuvers around the island to a trip it called a “sham” and “deplorable treason.”

Beijing has considered Taiwan a rogue province since Kuomintang nationalists withdrew there in 1949 after losing the civil war to the communist army.

The island is one of the biggest sources of conflict between China and the US, mainly because Washington is Taiwan’s main arms supplier and would be its biggest military ally in the event of a war with China. EFE

aa/lds

Related Articles

Back to top button