China has announced its intent to conduct a series of joint military operations and live-fire drills in maritime areas surrounding Taiwan, reported CNN.
The military exercises are being conducted in response to the visit of Congress delegations, led by the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, to Taiwan on 2 August.
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As per the news report, China has condemned and firmly opposed Pelosi’s visit to meet Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen.
In a statement, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said: “The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is on high alert and will take a series of targeted military operations in response to resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely thwart the interference by external forces and the separatist schemes for ‘Taiwan independence’.”
The statement released by Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND) said that the PLA will commence the military drills and training activities from 4 to 7 August.
The exercises will be carried out in six maritime areas and air space in Taiwan Strait.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s MND claimed that some of the exercise areas are a part of Taiwan’s territorial waters and it can endanger regional security and international order while undermining the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s MND added: “The national army resolutely defends national sovereignty, has absolute ability and confidence, assumes the responsibility of defending the territory, and counters any action that infringes on the sovereignty of our country.
“The nationalist military will maintain close ties with regional allies and strengthen coordination and cooperation to jointly prevent the escalation of the regional security situation.”
Taiwan’s MND also revealed that 21 Chinese aircraft entered its southwest air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on 2 August, after Pelosi’s arrival in Taiwan.
