Beijing encircles Taiwan for second day of military drills
China’s military maneuvers around Taiwan are expected to continue into Monday.
A Taiwanese fighter jet this Sunday.
AFP
China will conduct a second day of exercises in a “total encirclement” of Taiwan on Sunday, with maneuvers planned until Monday and presented by Beijing as a “stern warning” to the island’s authorities. Officer. Dubbed the “joint sword”, the move was strongly condemned by Taiwan and the US called on Beijing to “restrain” it by ensuring it kept its communication channels with China “open”.
The maneuvers began after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday, to which Beijing vowed to respond with “firm and strong” measures. State television said on Saturday that they aimed to establish Chinese capabilities to “control sea, airspace and information (…) to create deterrence and total encirclement” of Taiwan.
Destroyers and fighter jets mobilized
On Sunday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry recalled that nine ships and 71 military aircraft had been spotted around the island the previous day. “The military is closely monitoring the situation” and has asked its “aircraft, ships and land-based missile systems to act accordingly,” he said.
According to Beijing, destroyers, fast missile launchers, fighter jets, tankers and jammers have been mobilized significantly. “I’m a little worried, I’d be lying to you if I said otherwise,” Donald Ho, 73, told AFP on Sunday when met at a park in Taipei. “If war breaks out, both sides will suffer greatly.” China considers Taiwan (23 million people) a province that has been unable to reunite with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.
Chinese military spokesman Shi Yi warned that the maneuvers “serve as a serious warning against collusion between separatist forces and outside forces seeking ‘Taiwan independence’ and against their provocations.” Washington on Saturday reiterated its call “not to change the status quo”. “We believe we have sufficient resources and capabilities in the region to ensure peace and stability,” the State Department said.
“Grades”
Live-fire drills will take place on Monday in the Taiwan Strait near the coast of Fujian (eastern) province, which faces the island, local Chinese maritime officials said. The drills, which have an “operational” dimension, are meant to demonstrate that the Chinese military is ready to “solve all Taiwan’s issues once and for all” if “provocations escalate,” AFP military expert Chang pointed out. Zhangping.
Ms Tsai condemned China’s “authoritarian expansion” on Saturday and pledged that Taiwan would “continue to work with the US and other countries (…) to uphold the values of freedom and democracy”. China views with displeasure the rapprochement in recent years between Taiwanese officials and the United States, which provides substantial military support to the island despite the lack of official ties.
Military maneuvers already last year
For Beijing, these military exercises are “necessary” to “score points politically” with the Chinese people, said AFP James Char, an expert on the Chinese military at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
However, Mr. According to Sir, an increase of the same intensity as of August 2022 has been ruled out early. Beijing is trying to “warm up” its ties with Europe and was waiting for the “end” of French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to start its exercises, he notes.
Last summer, China engaged in unprecedented military maneuvers around Taiwan and fired missiles in response to visits to the island by Democrat Nancy Pelosi and then Kevin McCarthy, the House roost. The United States recognized the People’s Republic of China in 1979 and theoretically should not have official contact with the Republic of China (Taiwan) under the “One China Policy” advocated by Beijing.
AFP
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