ANI
05 Aug 2022, 12:07 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 Travel Trade 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 Travel Trade.
More InformationNEW YORK CITY, New York: Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak will return to Goldman Sachs in an advisory role, the Wall Street...
LONDON, U.K.: Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds recorded their most significant semi-annual inflow since the first half...
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Some 32 percent of global semiconductor production could face climate change-related copper supply disruptions...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks rebounded Tuesday with all the major indices gaining ground. Markets in the UK, Europe and Canada...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Financial markets kicked off the week on a cautious note as President Donald Trump rolled out a fresh round...
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil: At a two-day summit over the weekend, the BRICS bloc of emerging economies issued a joint declaration condemning...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
PARIS, France: French military and intelligence officials have accused China of orchestrating a covert campaign to damage the reputation...
PARIS, France: A strike by French air traffic controllers demanding improved working conditions caused significant disruptions during...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. government has granted GE Aerospace permission to resume jet engine shipments to China's COMAC, a person...
Vancouver [Canada], July 11 (ANI): Canadian journalist Daniel Bordman called the attack on a cafe owned by comedian Kapil Sharma a...
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], July 10 (ANI): Amid ongoing devastation caused by heavy rainfall and flash floods in Himachal Pradesh,...