China announced today that it is holding new military exercises around Taiwan, an island currently visited by US congressmen.
“On August 15, the Eastern Command of the People’s Liberation Army of China held a multi-service joint war readiness patrol and combat exercises in the sea and airspace around Taiwan,” the Chinese military said in a statement.
The previously undisclosed two-day visit of the five US lawmakers came shortly after Beijing conducted military maneuvers with ships, missiles and warplanes in the waters and skies around the self-governing island of Taiwan. China claims.
“This is a serious deterrent against the United States and Taiwan as they continue to play political games and undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” Shi Yi, spokesman for the Chinese military’s Eastern Command, said in a statement. He promised to “resolutely defend national sovereignty”.
A five-member US Congressional delegation led by Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey was scheduled to meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and hold a banquet at the State Department.
According to Washington’s de facto embassy in Taipei, the main topics of the visit are trade, regional security and climate change.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry hailed the visit as a sign of new friendship between Taipei and Washington “not afraid of threats and intimidation from China”.
The Taiwanese government accuses Beijing of using Pelosi’s visit as an excuse to hold exercises that allow the country to stage an invasion.
The Chinese Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan, but says it will use force to retake the island if necessary.
source: Noticias
[author_name]
