CHINA ENCIRCLES TAIWAN ON 1ST DAY OF 3-DAY MILITARY DRILL WITH ‘STERN WARNING’

Sat 08 Apr 2023:

in response to US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen in California. China has begun three days of military exercises around Taiwan.

The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command announced on Saturday that “combat readiness patrols” would continue until April 10 in China, which claims Taiwan as its own and hasn’t ruled out using force to further its objectives.

“This is a stern warning to ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionist forces and their collusion with external forces, and a necessary move to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the daily said, citing a statement from PLA Eastern Theater Command spokesman Senior Colonel Shi Yi.

China encircles Taiwan on 1st day of 3-day military drill with 'stern warning'#Taiwan #China pic.twitter.com/H5ICV33c43

— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) April 8, 2023

The latest development came after Tsai Ing-wen returned home on Friday from a 10-day trip to Central America and the US, where she met with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California and received a global leadership award from a think tank in New York.

Earlier on Friday, China sanctioned two US institutions, including the Hudson Institute, which presented the Taiwanese leader with the award, and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, where she met with the US House speaker.

Beijing said the two American institutions were “banned from having any exchanges, cooperation, and other activities with any individuals, universities or institutions in Beijing’s territory, including Hong Kong and Macau.”

“In disregard of China’s repeated representations and firm opposition, the United States insisted on allowing Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen to ‘transit’ to the United States to engage in political activities from March 29 to 31 and April 4 to 6, 2023,” said the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that they have detected Chinese vessels entering the region designated as an air defense identification area (ADIZ).

“42 PLA aircraft and 8 vessels were detected by 11:00 a.m. (UTC+8) April 8th. 29 of the detected aircraft had crossed northern, central, and southern median line of the #TaiwanStrait and entered our southwest #ADIZ, attempting coercion on us,” the ministry stated on Twitter.

Beijing considers Taiwan as its “breakaway province” and has strongly urged other nations to avoid direct relations with Taipei — which enjoys independent diplomatic relations with 13 countries.

Although there are no formal diplomatic ties between the US and Taiwan, the US is the island’s biggest international backer. It is also required by law to give the island the tools necessary for self-defense.

China conducted extensive military drills and live firing in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan in retaliation to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last year.

The last US House Speaker to visit Taiwan was a Republican named Newt Gingrich in 1997.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

FOLLOW INDEPENDENT PRESS:

TWITTER (CLICK HERE)
https://twitter.com/IpIndependent