Taiwan’s defense ministry said it spotted a warship and 20 other Chinese fighter jets around the island on the first day of Beijing’s announced military exercise in the Taiwan Strait.
The Chinese Communist Party “deliberately created tension in the Taiwan Strait (…), which has negative implications for the security and economic development of the international community,” the defense ministry said in a statement, clarifying that the Chinese warships that have been seen so far around Taiwan, there are 9 of them, and fighters – 71.
China: ‘Total encirclement’ of Taiwan is the goal of military exercises
It is noted that the military exercises that began today China in its straits Taiwan According to China’s state broadcaster CCTV, they are aiming for a “complete encirclement” of the island.
“Today’s exercise focuses on the ability to control the sea, airspace and intelligence (…) to create a containment and complete encirclement of Taiwan,” CCTV explained.
The exact location of these Boers is unknown.
The narrowest part of the Taiwan Strait between the Chinese coast and the island is about 130 kilometers.
Mostly destroyers, missiles, stealth aircraft and logistics were mobilized for the exercise, according to CCTV.
“authoritarian expansionism”
For her part, Taiwan’s president said her country was facing “authoritarian expansionism” from China.
“In recent years, we have faced constant authoritarian expansionism,” Tsai said, adding that Taiwan “will continue to work with the US and other countries (…) to uphold the values of freedom and democracy.”
Taiwan’s people love democracy and strive for peace, the island’s president also said, adding that she looks forward to further strengthening security cooperation with the United States.
On Wednesday, Tsai met with Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles, infuriating Beijing, which sees Taiwan as a Chinese province destined to be reunited with the mainland, even by force if necessary.
In August 2022, following a visit by Nancy Pelosi (McCarthy’s predecessor) to Taiwan, China held multi-day military exercises around the island.
Source: APE-MPE, AFP, Reuters.
Source: Kathimerini
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