China’s aircraft carrier Shandong is conducting exercises near Taiwan’s waters. Yesterday, the ground forces, as well as the navy and air force, conducted a large-scale exercise around Taiwan. China Photo: AFP
China conducted large-scale military exercises on Tuesday off the northern, southern and eastern coasts of Taiwan. The exercise was carried out as a stern warning against separatism. At the same time, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te was called a “parasite”. Taiwan sent warships in response to China’s exercise.
China also conducted large-scale military exercises around Taiwan last year; but
This time, the exercise was not given an official name like last year. China conducted the exercise in response to Lai’s words before US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s visit to Asia. It is worth noting that Taiwanese President Lai is known as a staunch critic of China.
As part of the military exercise, China conducted warships, air forces and ground forces in addition to warships. The drills included the idea of completely isolating Taiwan. Beijing also added the idea of striking targets from land and sea and missile defense. Taiwan’s defense ministry said in a statement that China’s Shandong aircraft carrier group entered its surveillance zone on Monday. Taiwan also deployed military aircraft and ships and activated missile systems in response.
China claims Taiwan as its territory. Recently, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te called China a foreign enemy force. This angered China.
A video released with the announcement of the military drills showed the Taiwanese president as a cartoon insect, which is held with chopsticks and Taiwan is burning below.
The video read, “This parasite is poisoning Taiwan. The parasite is hollowing out the island. The parasite is paving the way for its own destruction.”
The Taiwanese government condemned the drills. The president’s office says China is a troublemaker for the international community. Taiwan is confident in its own defense. The Taiwanese government rejects Beijing’s claims of sovereignty, saying that only the island’s people can determine their future.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said the Chinese Communist Party had increased military activity in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific region. Two senior Taiwanese officials told Reuters that more than 10 Chinese military ships had come within 24 nautical miles (44 kilometers) of Taiwan’s territorial waters, and Taiwan had sent its own warships to respond.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said it had not detected any direct fire from the Chinese military. But at least 71 Chinese military aircraft and 13 naval vessels were conducting exercises. It did not know when the exercises would end.
Taiwan’s defense ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang said Taiwan’s armed forces had increased their readiness level to prevent China from rehearsing for war and launching a surprise attack on us.
A top Taiwanese security official told Reuters that internal analysis shows China wants to avoid any “obvious conflict” with Washington, as it does not want to create tensions ahead of upcoming trade talks with the United States.
China’s Foreign Ministry said the drills were a legitimate and necessary measure to safeguard national sovereignty and national unity.
