ISLAMABAD: China has staged “simulated joint precision strikes on key targets in Taiwan” and its surrounding waters during a second day of military drills launched near the island in the wake of Taiwanese president’s visit to US last week.
China, which claims the self-governed Taiwan as its own territory, began the three-day military drills around the island on Saturday, a day after Tsai Ing-wen returned home following a meeting with the US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Taipei said at least 71 Chinese jets flew around the island on Saturday while 45 warplanes either crossed the Taiwan Strait median line – the unofficial dividing line between the territories of Taiwan and China – or flew into the south-western part of Taiwan’s air defence identification zone. Nine Chinese ships were also spotted.
Taiwanese defence officials on Saturday accused Beijing of using President Tsai’s US visit as an “excuse to conduct military exercises, which has seriously undermined peace, stability and security in the region”.
Washington urges Beijing to show restraint
US state Department has urged China not to exploit President Tsai’s US visit, and called for “restraint and no change to the status quo”.
A state department spokesperson said Washington was “monitoring Beijing’s actions closely” and insisted the US had “sufficient resources and capabilities in the region to ensure peace and stability and to meet our national security commitments”.
China has described the exercises, dubbed “Joint Sword”, as a “serious warning to Taiwan’s independence separatist forces”, while Taipei has condemned Beijing for using Tsai’s US visit as “an excuse to carry out military exercises, which has seriously damaged regional peace, stability and security”. The drills are set to continue till Monday.
China had warned Taiwan and the US against the meeting between Tsai and McCarthy, which took place when the former was returning from a tour of allies in Central America. China also staged extensive war games around the island last year, including firing missiles into waters close to it, after a visit to Taipei by then US Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
McCarthy had originally planned to visit Taiwan himself but opted instead to hold the meeting in California to avoid inflaming tensions with Beijing.
