ANI
05 Aug 2022, 16:37 GMT+10
Taipei [Taiwan], August 5 (ANI): Taipei on Friday termed China's military exercises around the island nation "highly provocative" after some Chinese aircraft and warships crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
China began its four-day live-fire military drills in six maritime areas around Taiwan on Thursday after U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi concluded a 19-hour visit to Taiwan.
According to Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND), several People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and warships had been spotted in waters around Taiwan, with some crossing the median line at 11 am.
The median line serves as an unofficial border separating Taiwan and China and breaching it represents a more aggressive posture than Beijing's frequent sorties in the past two years into Taiwan's air defence identification zone, according to Focus Taiwan.
In response to the "highly provocative" exercises, the military will enhance its capabilities and readiness for war to safeguard the country's sovereignty without escalating tensions or triggering conflicts that might lead to a war, the MND said in a statement.
Taiwan's Defence Ministry didn't give much detail about the numbers of Chinese military aircraft and ships that crossed the median line on Friday, after saying 22 PLA planes did so on Thursday.
"22 PLA aircraft (J-118, SU-3012 and J-162) entered the surrounding area of R.O.C. on August 4, 2022," Taiwan Defence Ministry said in a statement.
Taiwan strongly condemned China's "North Korea" style missile firing into waters near the self-governed island after China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched multiple Dongfeng (DF) ballistic missiles at the island's Northeast and Southwest waters.
Notably, this is the third such incident that took place since Pelosi's trip to Taipei.
Taiwan's Foreign Affairs Ministry strongly condemns the Chinese government for following the example of North Korea in willfully test-firing missiles into waters near other countries and demands that China exercise self-restraint.
This comes as China commenced military drills around Taiwan's main island, a day after Pelosi departed from Taipei following a visit that has left Beijing rankled.
Live-fire drills began today in at least six identified zones around the island, that regard its own and threaten to take over. The ChinesePLA organized joint combat training exercises near Taiwan waters and airspace, Xinhua news agency reported.
The Taiwan government has urged the international community to condemn China's military coercion toward Taiwan.
"The ministry also calls on countries around the globe to continue to speak up in support of democratic Taiwan in order to jointly safeguard the values of freedom and democracy, to maintain the rules-based international order, and to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific," the Taiwan foreign ministry said.
Pelosi's high-stakes visit marks the first visit by a US House Speaker in 25 years since Newt Gingrich came to Taiwan in April 1997. It was also Pelosi's first trip to Taiwan in 22 years. (ANI)
Get a daily dose of Mexico Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Mexico Star.
More InformationDUBLIN, Ireland - A €65 million fund to drive solutions to the green transition and to digital transformation was launched ...
New Delhi [India], August 9 (ANI): To take forward the process of widespread consultation for the development of the new ...
Karachi [Pakistan], August 9 (ANI): Horrid memories of the tragic event of the 2009 Ashura blast case, the victims of ...
Lexington, Kentucky - U.S. President Joe Biden pledged more federal help to flood-ravaged eastern Kentucky on Monday after touring the ...
Kabul [Afghanistan], August 9 (ANI): Fears have intensified due to an increase in violence in Kabul during the final days ...
Geneva [Switzerland], August 9 (ANI): UN human rights experts on Monday (local time) condemned the extensive, prolonged and repeated use ...
SOLOMON ISLANDS: In a move that opponents said is aimed at controlling and censoring the media, the government of the ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: In July, a Florida man was killed by exploding Takata airbag inflators, possibly becoming the 20th death in ...
Israel has launched an unprovoked war against the Palestinian resistance group Islamic Jihad. The Israeli army assassinated a high-ranking commander ...
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan categorically denied on Thursday that a U.S. drone strike in Kabul that killed al-Qaeda chief Ayman ...
EAST NUSA TENGGARA, Indonesia: Hundreds of Indonesian tourism workers went on strike this week to protest a sharp rise in ...
NASSAU, Bahamas: A team of explorers have announced that they have uncovered a treasure, including coins, gemstones and priceless jewels, ...