US visit heightened tensions… China launched exercise

The Chinese military held a joint military exercise involving air and naval forces around the island of Taiwan, following the US “transit visits” to New York and San Francisco before and after the visit by the acting leader of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, to the South American country Paraguay. began

Colonel Xi Yi, spokesman for the People’s Liberation Army of China (PRC) Eastern Front Command, said the exercise, conducted in the airspace and waters north and south-west of Taiwan, “is a stern warning against cooperation between the forces defending Taiwan’s independence with foreign powers”.

Spokesman Şı stated that the exercise, which involved elements of the navy and air force, was an “emergency combat readiness patrol and drill” and focused on “aircraft and ship coordination and the ability to control air and sea areas”.

Video footage of the exercise was shared on the command’s social media account, and state television CCTV reported that ships carrying guided missiles and fighter jets took part in the exercise.

Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense announced that 42 Chinese military aircraft and 8 warships were seen around the island from midnight yesterday to tonight. In the ministry’s statement, it was said that 26 of the 42 planes crossed the air and sea lines in the Taiwan Strait, which is supposed to limit the areas of influence of the parties.

In the statement, it was noted that the Taiwanese military is closely monitoring the situation with fighter jets, ships, detection tracking devices and ground-based missile systems.

The exercise comes after Lai, the interim leader of Taiwan, which is in a sovereignty conflict with China, returned to the island after visiting the US city of San Francisco following his visit to Paraguay. Lai had passed through New York as a transit stop and then through San Francisco before Paraguay’s newly elected president, Santiago Peña, visited the country to attend the inauguration ceremony on August 15. (AA)