China announced on Monday that it had “successfully concluded” the military exercises around Taiwan, which began on Saturday in response to the island’s leader meeting with the speaker of the US House of Representatives.
The Command of the Eastern Theater of Operations of the People’s Liberation Army announced, through its account on the Wechat social network, that it “consciously tested its forces in real combat conditions” and “carried out various tasks in preparation for combat.”
“The troops are ready to fight at any time,” commando spokesman Shi Yi said, adding that the forces were prepared to “resolutely crush any form of separatism and attempted foreign interference.”
The maneuvers, scheduled until Monday, focused on simulating a “maritime blockade” of the island, explained the Chinese Ministry of Defense, through a statement published on its official website.
The Chinese military has sent dozens of fighter jets and warships near Taiwan in recent days, following a meeting last Wednesday between the island’s President Tsai Ing-wen and the leader of the House of Representatives of Congress. US Republican Kevin McCarthy in California.
China also said it had deployed fighter jets carrying “live ammunition” and the aircraft carrier Shandong to carry out “simulated attacks” on key Taiwanese targets.
Chinese military vessels were active in the northwest, southwest, and east of Taiwan, encircling the island territory.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry condemned China’s moves, describing them as “an unreasonable act that endangers regional security and stability.”
At the end of World War II, Taiwan became part of the Republic of China under Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist government.
After the defeat against the Communist Party, in the Chinese Civil War, in 1949, the Nationalist Government took refuge on the island, which maintains, to this day, the official name of the Republic of China, in opposition to the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese mainland.
Beijing considers the island part of its territory and threatens reunification by force if Taipei formally declares its independence.
Source: TSF
