China simulates ‘strikes on targets in Taiwan’ as drills continue

The Chinese military has staged “simulated joint precision strikes against key targets in Taiwan” during a second day of exercises near the island in the wake of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s brief visit to the United States.

The announcement on Sunday came as Taiwan’s defense ministry said it had detected multiple Chinese air force flights and was monitoring Beijing’s missile forces.

China, which claims Taiwan is governed democratically as its own territory, began three-day military exercises around the island on Saturday, the day after Tsai Ing-wen returned from the US, where she met with the speaker of the US House of Representatives. Deputies. of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy.

Chinese state television reported that combat readiness patrols and exercises continued around Taiwan.

“Under the unified command of the theater joint operations command center, multiple types of units conducted simulated joint precision strikes against key targets on the island of Taiwan and surrounding sea areas, and continued to maintain an offensive posture around the island,” it said.

Taiwan’s defense ministry said they had seen 58 Chinese aircraft, including Su-30 fighters and H-6 bombers, as well as nine warships, around the self-governed island as of Sunday afternoon (04:00 GMT).

The ministry said they are paying particular attention to the People’s Liberation Army missile force, which is in charge of China’s land-based missile system.

“Regarding the movements of the Chinese Communists’ Rocket Force, the country’s military also has a good view of the joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system, and the air defense forces remain on high alert,” the ministry said.

It reiterated that Taiwan’s armed forces “will not escalate conflict or create disputes” and would respond “appropriately” to China’s exercises.

‘Severe warning’

China has described the exercises, dubbed United Sharp Sword, as a “dire warning to Taiwan’s separatist independence forces”, while Taipei condemned Beijing for using Tsai’s visit to the US as “an excuse to conduct military exercises, which would harm the regional seriously harmed peace, stability and stability”. and security”.

China had warned Taiwan and the US against the Tsai-McCarthy meeting, which took place during the Taiwanese president’s return trip to the self-governing island’s two remaining formal allies in Central America.

She came home on Friday.

China had also staged elaborate war games around Taiwan last year, including firing missiles into waters close to the island, following a visit to Taipei by then-Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.

The de facto US embassy in Taiwan said on Sunday it is closely monitoring China’s latest exercises around the island and is “at ease and confident” that it has sufficient resources and capabilities regionally to ensure peace and stability.

U.S. communication channels with China remain open, said a spokesman for the American Institute in Taiwan, which serves as an embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

Washington severed diplomatic relations with Taipei in 1979 in favor of Beijing, but is required by law to give the island the means to defend itself.

China, which has never refrained from using force to bring the island under its control, says Taiwan is the most important and sensitive issue in its relations with the US, and the subject is a frequent source of tension.

Beijing considers Tsai a separatist and has rejected her repeated calls for consultations. Tsai says only the people of Taiwan can decide their future.

China has increased its military pressure on Taiwan over the past three years, conducting regular missions around Taiwan, but not in its territorial airspace or over the island itself.

‘Rebellion’ with Chinese warships

Taiwan’s defense ministry said earlier on Sunday it had seen 71 Chinese air force aircraft and nine naval vessels near Taiwan in the past 24 hours.

The ministry released a map showing that about half of those aircraft, including Su-30s and J-11s, crossed the centerline of the Taiwan Strait, which for years has served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides.

According to Chinese state media, the planes were armed with live weapons.

Taiwan Air Force jets also typically carry live weapons when rushing to repel Chinese incursions.

Late on Saturday, Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council, which heads the Coast Guard, posted footage to its YouTube channel showing one of its ships following a Chinese warship, but did not provide an exact location.

“You are seriously endangering regional peace, stability and security. Please turn around immediately and leave. If you continue, we will take eviction measures,” a Coast Guard officer radioed the Chinese ship.

Other footage showed a Taiwanese warship, the Di Hua, accompanying the Coast Guard vessel in what the Coast Guard officer calls a “standoff” with the Chinese warship.

Nevertheless, civilian flights around Taiwan, including to Kinmen and Matsu, two groups of Taiwan-controlled islands just off the Chinese coast, have continued.

In August, civil air traffic was disrupted after China issued effective flight bans in several blocks near Taiwan where it fired missiles.