SYDNEY: China’s military exercises around Taiwan are “concerning” but not unexpected, US Indo-Pacific Command deputy commander Lieutenant General Stephen Sklenka said on Thursday.
The US General said that they were expecting it, adding, “It is concerning.” The General made these remarks in Canberra. He said, “Just because we expect that behavior does not mean we that we should not denounce it and we should condemn it publicly.” The General said that other countries should also raise voice over the development.
The general told the reporters that it was one thing when Washington denounces Beijing, but there is a far more powerful effect, when regional nations also follow the US.
Sklenka further said he believed the “target” of China’s drills was its own domestic population, not the international community.
China on Thursday morning started two days of military drills involving naval vessels and aircraft “surrounding the island of Taiwan”, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
According to Xinhua, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) started joint military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has called Lai a “dangerous separatist” who will bring “war and decay” to the island.
Taiwan denounced China on Thursday for launching a two-day military drill around the island. China announced the military exercise three days following Lai Ching-te was sworn in as the new president of Taiwan.
