China has conducted military drills near Taiwan in response to comments made by Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te, who referred to China as a “foreign hostile force.
” The drills, described by Chinese military officials as a warning to separatist forces in Taiwan, underscore escalating tensions between Beijing and Taipei. Lai, a leading candidate in Taiwan’s upcoming presidential elections, has taken a stance advocating for Taiwan’s sovereignty, which Beijing views as a provocation.
The exercises included naval and air force maneuvers, with China’s People’s Liberation Army emphasizing their readiness to safeguard territorial integrity. Taiwan’s defense ministry has condemned the drills, stating they are closely monitoring the situation and prepared to respond if necessary.
China launched military drills near Taiwan on Monday, the self-ruled island’s Ministry of National Defense announced on Tuesday, days after its president in Taipei referred to Beijing as a “foreign hostile force” and vowed to counter its attempts at infiltration.
A flight map released by the ministry detected 59 warplanes and drones, as well as nine vessels from China in the vicinity of the island with 43 of the aircraft crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait while others entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. Two balloons also circled the island.
