OUR Japan said today that he ordered the mobilization of fighters in the last days due to air training courses conducted China around her Taiwan.

The military exercise, which began on Saturday and will last three days, was organized by Beijing in response to an April 5 meeting in the United States between Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Taiwan announced today that it has detected eleven warships and fifty-nine Chinese warplanes around the island. Fighters and warships, including the aircraft carrier Shandong, took part in mock strikes on the island, including live-fire exercises.

Aircraft carrier Shandong

The Japanese General Staff said in a statement released today that since last Friday it has spotted the Shandong and other Chinese warships in an area 230-430 km south of the Japanese island of Miyako.

According to the General Staff, “about 120 landings and takeoffs” were confirmed on the Shandong aircraft carrier, including 80 combat aircraft and 40 helicopters.

Two Japanese force escort teams were mobilized for the surveillance mission, he said, and “Self-Defense Force fighters were deployed” in response to heavy Chinese fighter activity.

The Chinese military took part in exercises to encircle Taiwan for the first time.

“If we want to protect peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, we must resolutely oppose any form of secession for the sake of Taiwan’s independence,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a regular press conference today.

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP.}