The Chinese People’s Liberation Army said on Monday that the Chinese military held another exercise near Taiwan last week to improve joint combat operations after Beijing reported a spike in activity on the island, which it claims is part of its territory.
Taiwan has been complaining frequently for the past two years near Chinese military activity, mostly concentrated in the south and southwestern part of the island’s air defense identification zone.
The Taiwan Air Force deployed planes on Friday to fend off 18 Chinese aircraft entering the air defense zone and reported more strikes on Saturday and Sunday, albeit with fewer aircraft.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command said in a statement that Navy and Air Force assets are holding exercises from Friday to Sunday in eastern and southwest Taiwan to “test and develop the joint combat capability of multiple services and weapons.” Details were not disclosed.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said that China has deployed bombers, warplanes and anti-submarine aircraft.
No shots were fired, and the Chinese plane was flown not in Taiwanese airspace, but in the aerial identification zone, a larger area that Taiwan monitors and patrols to allow more time to respond to any threats.
Taiwan has raised its alarm level, suspecting that China will make a similar move since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but the government in Taipei has given no indication that this is about to happen.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu answered questions in parliament on Monday, saying China continues to pose a threat.
But we have the determination to defend our country,” he said.
Japan said last week that eight Chinese carriers, including an aircraft carrier, crossed between islands in the Okinawa chain from southern Japan to northeastern Taiwan.
Taiwan also conducted missile and other exercises on the south and southeast coasts last week. The maneuvers were planned in advance.
China has never ceased to use force to bring democratically administered Taiwan under its control, and the Taiwan Strait remains a potential point of military tension.
The Taiwanese government rejects China’s claims to sovereignty and says only the island’s 23 million people can decide its future.
source: Noticias
