Chinese military exercises have begun around the main island of Taiwan, The Guardian reports with reference to Chinese state media,
KYIV. UkraineGate . 4. August .2022 | World News .
Details
“From 12:00 today to 12:00 (7:00 Kyiv time) on the 7th, the People’s Liberation Army is conducting important military exercises and conducting live fire drills. During these actual live fire exercises, six main areas around the island were selected, and during during this period, all ships and aircraft must not enter the relevant sea areas and airspace,” state broadcaster CCTV said at noon local time.
Six declared zones surround the island and sometimes cross Taiwan’s territorial waters. Some of them are also very close to key ports, and Taiwanese authorities have accused the PLA of effectively carrying out the blockade, a very serious charge, the paper notes.
“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command on Thursday conducted large-scale military exercises and training activities, including live firing exercises around the island of Taiwan,” the broadcaster added.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said its armed forces were “operating as usual” and monitoring the surrounding area. “We do not seek escalation, but we do not stand aside when it comes to our security and sovereignty,” the ministry said.
Addition
On August 2, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the US Congress, Nancy Pelosi, visited Taiwan and left the island on August 3. She is the most senior US official to visit the island in more than 25 years. Pelosi arrived there despite warnings from China, which claims the island as its own.
Against this background, China’s Ministry of Defense promised “targeted military operations” and China’s army announced military exercises in six areas around Taiwan from August 4 to 7.
Source: Ukrgate
