Press
A recent event has particularly angered the Communist Party in Beijing – now China’s military wants to exercise off the coast of Taiwan.
Beijing – The large-scale exercise is not just intended to be a signal to Taiwan: China has announced a large-scale military exercise around the East Asian island republic. “This is also a harsh punishment for the separatist forces of Taiwan’s independence and a serious warning against interference and provocation by external forces,” said the spokesman for the Eastern Association of the People’s Liberation Army, marine-Colonel Li Xi, on Thursday (May 23).
The military exercises come after new Taiwan President Lai Ching-te was inaugurated last Monday. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province that should be reunited with the mainland, if necessary by military force. China has been regularly sending fighter jets and warships near the island for several years.
According to the information, the military wants to train joint combat readiness at sea and in the air as well as attacks on key targets. Ships and planes would approach Taiwan from the north and south for “patrols” and would also come close to several islands, such as Kinmen Island, just a few kilometers from mainland China.
New Taiwanese President Lai probably the reason for the major exercise
The background to the now announced exercise is likely to be the inauguration of the newly elected Taiwanese president. His Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the presidential election in January and supports Taiwan’s independence. The ruling Communist Party in Beijing accuses the DPP of separatism.
The warning is also likely to apply to Taiwan’s allies, particularly the United States, which has promised the island republic support in the event of a defense and regularly supplies it with weapons, much to Beijing’s annoyance.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry condemned the military exercise as an “irrational provocation” that endangers peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The armed forces on land, sea and in the air were deployed to defend “freedom and democracy with practical actions,” Taipei said. The ministry did not provide any further details about the measures. (AFP/dpa/frs)
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