China has simulated “joint precision strikes” against “key targets on the island of Taiwan and surrounding waters” as part of military maneuvers around the island, China’s state television channel CCTV reported.
Dozens of army aircraft were deployed to “fly into targeted airspace” and ground forces conducted “multi-target precision strikes”, he added.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s defense ministry said it detected nine warships and 58 Chinese aircraft around the island on the second day of Chinese military maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait.
The ministry stated that it was monitoring the movements of the Chinese army through a “joint information and surveillance system”, stating that fighter jets and bombers were among the aircraft sighted from noon (05:00 in Lisbon).
The Chinese military maneuvers were announced and launched after Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday, a meeting to which Beijing promised to respond with “firm and energetic” measures.
According to the authorities of Fujian, the Chinese province in the east of the country, which lies in front of the island, exercises will be held in the Taiwan Strait on Monday.
The goal is to determine China’s ability to “take control of the sea, airspace and information (…) to create deterrence and total encirclement” of Taiwan, China’s state television said. Saturday.
The maneuvers “serve as a serious warning against collusion between separatist forces pursuing ‘Taiwan independence’ and outside forces, as well as against provocative activities,” Chinese army spokesman Shi Yi warned.
China is dissatisfied with the rapprochement in recent years between the Taiwanese authorities and the US, which, despite the lack of official relations, provides the island with significant military support.
Washington recognized the People’s Republic of China in 1979 and, in theory, should have no official contact with the Republic of China (Taiwan’s official name), under the “one China principle” championed by Beijing.
China sees Taiwan, with 23 million inhabitants and autonomous since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949, as a province to be reunited with the rest of the territory.
Source: DN
