China rehearses encircling Taiwan with armada of warships as it mobilises fighter jets and warships
China practices encircling Taiwan with an armada of warships as it mobilizes fighter jets, bombers and warships for live-fire military operations – while Taiwan’s president visits the US
China has sent a terrifying warning to Taiwan by holding three-day military exercises to practice encirclement of the region.
Task forces “will simultaneously organize patrols and advances around the island of Taiwan, shaping a comprehensive encirclement and deterrent posture,” state media said.
Long-range missile artillery, naval destroyers, missile boats, air force fighters, bombers, jammers and tankers are all being tested by the Chinese military.
It comes hours after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy in California, with Beijing describing it as a “distant warning” to the self-governing government.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said 42 Chinese military aircraft and eight ships crossed the centerline of the Taiwan Strait.
Chinese camera footage shows how a fighter plane performs a refueling maneuver in the air
Chinese ships sail into the Taiwan Strait as part of the country’s three-day military exercise
The three-day operation, dubbed “United Sharp Sword,” will run until Monday, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said in a statement.
“These operations serve as a stern warning against the collusion between separatist forces pursuing ‘Taiwan independence’ and outside forces and against their provocative activities,” said the PLA’s Shi.
“The operations are necessary to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
President Tsai Ing-wen Tsai immediately denounced the exercises and pledged to cooperate with “the US and other like-minded countries” despite the “continued authoritarian expansionism.”
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense also expressed its “solemn condemnation of such irrational actions.”
The ministry also claimed that China used Tsai’s visit to the US as an “excuse to conduct military exercises, which have seriously undermined peace, stability and security in the region.”
Last August, China deployed warships, missiles and fighter jets around Taiwan in its biggest show of force in years after the region’s leader made a trip to see McCarthy’s predecessor Nancy Pelosi.
Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state with its own constitution and leaders, but China sees it as a breakaway province that they will soon take under control, by force if necessary.
The military practice exercises – dubbed ‘United Sharp Sword’ – will rehearse the encirclement of Taiwan
A Chi Yang-class frigate is on display at Suao Naval Base in Yilan, Taiwan
Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000-5 aircraft prepares to park after landing at Hsinchu Air Base in Hsinchu, Taiwan
Hours before McCarthy’s meeting on Wednesday, China sent its aircraft carrier Shandong through southeastern waters off Taiwan en route to the western Pacific.
Beijing said “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” after repeatedly warning of the Tsai-McCarthy meeting.
“China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will never be divided,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular news conference.
“Taiwan’s future lies in reunification with the motherland.”
Chinese military commentator Song Zhongping also added that the exercises were intended to demonstrate that the Chinese military will be ready if “the provocation intensifies” to “solve the Taiwan issue once and for all” .
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen poses with Michael McCaul, Chairman of the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs
President Tsai Ing-wen Tsai immediately denounced the exercises
Long-range missile artillery, naval destroyers, missile boats, air force fighters, bombers, jammers and tankers are all being tested by the Chinese military