In retaliation to the Chinese exercises, the Taiwanese army will conduct live-fire artillery training in southern Pingtung County on Tuesday and Thursday, according to the official Central News Agency of Taiwan.
Digital Desk: In response to US House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-governing island, China claimed Sunday that it
has conducted military manoeuvres for a fourth straight day in the air and on
the sea around Taiwan. This was done in spite of calls from other countries to
defuse the situation.
The People's Liberation Army said that the exercises were
designed to evaluate its land and air long-range strikes. It did not specify if
the drills would continue after Sunday.
Taiwan claimed that it has continued to spot
numerous Chinese planes, ships, and drones flying across the Taiwan Strait,
which divides the island from the mainland. These aircraft, ships, and drones
were allegedly "simulating attacks on the island of Taiwan and our ships
at sea." According to Taiwan's defence ministry, joint naval and air
exercises by 66 Chinese aircraft and 14 Chinese warships were being conducted
near the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan responded by deploying naval ships, shore-based
missiles, and air reconnaissance patrols while announcing that it would keep a
careful eye on the situation.
In retaliation to the Chinese exercises, the
Taiwanese army will conduct live-fire artillery training in southern Pingtung
County on Tuesday and Thursday, according to the official Central News Agency
of Taiwan.
According to the article, which cited an
unnamed source, the drills will involve snipers, combat vehicles, armoured
vehicles, as well as assault helicopters.
For the four-day drills, which it announced
immediately after Pelosi's visits to Taipei on Tuesday and Wednesday, China
established no-go zones all around Taiwan, angering Beijing, which saw them as
a breach of the "one-China" policy. China claims Taiwan and has
stated that if necessary, it will use force to annex it. After a civil war, the
two sides divided, yet Beijing views international dignitaries visiting Taiwan
as an acknowledgement of its sovereignty.
The Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan
stressed that the military was monitoring the situation and has sent out
aircraft and ships to take appropriate action.
The international community has been urged to
"defend democratic Taiwan" and "prevent any escalation of the
regional security situation," according to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.
China has so far sent warships across the
Taiwan Straits middle line and launched missile attacks on targets in the
waters near Taiwan. In retaliation for Pelosi's visit, it has also stopped
discussing climate change and defence with the US and sanctioned Pelosi.
The "one-China" policy, which
acknowledges Beijing as the legal government but permits informal relations and
defence links with Taipei, is upheld, according to the Biden administration and
Pelosi.
However, the US denounced Beijing's moves in
the Taiwan Strait, describing them as "fundamentally irresponsible"
according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
This escalated situation "has no
justification or need," declared Jean-Pierre.
The US-China tensions over Taiwan, according
to Singapore's coordinating minister for national security Teo Chee Hean, are
"an issue that can escalate to violence and war to the detriment of all
parties involved, notably the people in Taiwan."
Southeast Asia is suffering as a result of
the tensions, Teo said, adding, "We hope that prudence will prevail."
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