China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Tuesday began a new series of live-fire exercises near Taiwan and warned ships to stay away from the Pingtan Islands region off China's southern coast.
The new exercise took place just one week after China held The large-scale exercise saw a record number of military aircraft and naval vessels deployed into the waters around Taiwan. The exercise included mock attacks on Taiwan's ports and infrastructure and was explicitly billed as a “stern warning” to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-de and his “independent forces.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eYz04vECo
China is more modest presented Tuesday's training is part of a regularly scheduled annual training exercise. Taiwanese authorities closely followed the progress of the case, but did not raise undue alarm over the PLA's activities.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said, “We cannot deny the possibility that this is a means of expanding deterrence effects in line with power relations across the Taiwan Strait.''
“No matter how large-scale the drills are, they should not be conducted in close proximity to Taiwan frequently. That will only cause unnecessary tension.” Taiwanese Prime Minister Cho Zheng-tai complained on tuesday.
america and philippines held The large-scale joint exercise follows China's intimidating drill last week.
Sunday, American destroyer USS higgins and the Canadian frigate HMCS vancouver The ship passed through the Taiwan Strait, where the U.S. 7th Fleet is sailing. said This demonstrated “the commitment of the United States and Canada to maintaining the principle of freedom of navigation for all nations.”
“The international community's navigational rights and freedoms in the Taiwan Strait should not be restricted,” the 7th Fleet said.
“The United States rejects any claims of sovereignty or jurisdiction inconsistent with the freedom of navigation, overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea and air,” the statement concluded.
