Taiwan condemns “irrational” Chinese military maneuvers around the island

Taiwan expressed his condemnation for military maneuvers carried out by Beijing around the island, describing it as an “irrational act that threatens regional security and stability”.

The island’s defense ministry indicated on its official Twitter account that it had ordered its aircraft, ships and missile systems to “respond to the activity,” according to Efe. Likewise, the ministry reported 42 Chinese military aircraft incursions into Taiwan’s air identification zone, 29 of which crossed the center line of the Taiwan Strait, which for decades has functioned as an unofficial border but tacitly respected by China and Taiwanself-governing island whose sovereignty Beijing claims.

In the past two years, Chinese military aircraft have carried out numerous attacks on Taiwan’s ADIZ, intensifying at a time when tensions between the two territories have risen.

The ministry also warned of the discovery of eight Chinese military ships near the island. The armed forces of the island “closely monitored” the situation and “responded” to “defend the country”.

The Eastern Theater of Operations of the Chinese Army announced today the organization of military exercises around Taiwan, after the Taiwanese President, Tsai Ing-wenwill meet this Wednesday in California with the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, kevin mccarthy.

Theater of Operations spokesman Shi Yi defined the maneuvers as a “serious warning” against “provocations by separatist forces” and a “necessary action to protect China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The exercises, which will be both naval and air, and will take place in the north and south of the island, began this Saturday and will last until Monday, the military entity reported on its official account on the Wechat social network.

On Thursday, Beijing condemned Tsai’s stay in the United States, which it accused of “colluding” with Taiwan, while announcing that it would respond with “decisive and effective measures.” For its part, the maritime security authorities of the southeastern province of Fujian, located near Taiwan, warned in two statements that live firing exercises would take place in the waters near the Chinese coast of the province on the 8th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th and 20th. .this month, picked up the local paper Global Times.

The situation is reminiscent of the one experienced last August, when the visit to Taiwan by then Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi angered Beijing, which responded with military maneuvers around the island to a trip it described as a “farce” … and a “deplorable betrayal”.

Beijing believes Taiwan rebel province since the Kuomintang Nationalists retreated there in 1949 after losing the civil war against the Communist Army. The island is one of the biggest sources of conflict between China and the United States, mainly because Washington is Taiwan’s main arms supplier and would be its biggest military ally in the event of a war with China.