Beijing said it was intended as a warning against separatist forces and ”external interference”.
What you should know
China on Monday conducted joint military exercises around the island of Taiwan, deploying air, naval and missile units.
Beijing is said to have launched the exercise in response to the US recently announcing its largest-ever arms sale to Taiwan.
Beijing has said it is aimed at separatist forces and a warning against 'external interference'. As tensions have escalated, China is expected to attack the self-ruled territory of Taiwan. In this context, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi had warned that his army would also stand by Taiwan if China attacked. China, further irritated by Japan's warning, has launched military exercises to express its anger against external interference.
After the increased military activity, Taiwan has also said that China is the 'biggest enemy of peace' and has put its military on high alert. Taiwan's aviation authority has said that more than 100,000 passengers have been affected by the disruption of international flights due to China's military exercises. Many international flights have been canceled and some flights flying through the region have been diverted due to China's joint military exercises.
China's Foreign Ministry has accused Taiwan's ruling party of seeking independence with US support. Taiwan's Defense Ministry also responded immediately, accusing the Chinese Communist Party-led military of trying to disrupt peace with its military activities. Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army, said the drills would be conducted around the island of Taiwan. He said they were sea and air war preparation patrols and would focus on blockades of key ports. "This military exercise is a warning against separatist forces and external interference active for Taiwan independence," military spokesman Xi said. "The military will take lawful and necessary measures to safeguard China's sovereignty and national unity."
Tensions between China and Washington rose last week after Beijing imposed entry and trade restrictions on 20 US arms companies and 10 of their executives. Tensions have reached a fever pitch after Washington announced a large-scale arms sale to Taiwan worth more than $10 billion in retaliation. Washington, however, has called the arms sales mandatory assistance for Taiwan's defense under US federal law.
