By Deutsche Welle
14 Oct 2024, 01:31 AM EDT
The Army of This Monday, China unexpectedly began military exercises around Taiwan in which it reproduces the blockade and takeover of ports and key areas of the island. while Taipei deployed its military troops to defend its sovereignty, military sources from both territories reported.
The exercises, which also include simulated attacks on naval and land targets, are similar to those that China carried out last May, also in the Taiwan Strait and around the self-governed island whose sovereignty Beijing claims.
The Taipei government reacted immediately and said that the maneuvers around the island and China’s refusal to renounce the use of force are “blatant provocations” that seriously undermine regional peace and stability.
“In the face of new political, military and economic threats from China in recent days, Taiwan will not back down or give in,” declared Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Affairs Council.
For its part, China said the exercises “test the joint operational capabilities of the command theater troops.”
In response, Taipei said it sent “appropriate forces” to protect its territory.
Taiwanese Armed Forces deployed
Taiwan deployed its Armed Forces this Monday to “defend freedom and democracy” and “protect” its sovereignty against China, official sources reported.
In a statement, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MDN) expressed its “strong condemnation” of the “provocative and irrational actions” carried out by Beijing, which “increase tension and damage peace and stability in the Strait of Taiwan.”
“In the face of enemy threats, the Armed Forces are on maximum alert, with the firm will to ‘prepare for war without seeking it, face it without avoiding it’. They will continue to strengthen their deterrent capabilities and deepen patriotism among soldiers, building a reliable and resilient military force with the capacity, determination and confidence to guarantee national security,” stated the military portfolio.
Maneuvers in the north, south and east of the island
The maneuvers are carried out in “areas to the north, south and east of the island of Taiwan”, detailed Captain Li Xi, spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese army.
The exercises “focus on topics such as air and sea combat readiness surveillance, blockade of ports and key areas,” as well as “assaulting sea and land targets,” Li said.
China has in recent years intensified its military activity around Taiwan, sending warplanes and other military aircraft, while its ships maintain a near-constant presence in the island’s waters.
Beijing has not ruled out the use of force to take control of the democratically governed island.
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