China concludes this Sunday the largest military maneuvers in its history around Taiwanan angry response to the visit of the president of the United States House of Representatives to the island, which brought bilateral ties to their lowest point in years.
In response to the visit of Nancy Pelosithe second in the line of presidential succession, China suspended its cooperation with the United States in several key areas, including combating climate change and defense issues.
It also deployed fighter jets, warships, and ballistic missiles around Taiwan.what analysts consider to be a simulated blockade and invasion of the island.
The maneuvers are expected to conclude this Sunday, although the Xi Jinping regime has already announced new maneuvers in the Yellow Sea, located between China and the Korean peninsulaUntil the 15 of August.
Taiwan’s Transport Ministry said six of the seven “temporary danger zones” that China warned airlines to avoid had returned to normal, signaling the near end of the exercises.
The seventh zone, on Taiwan’s east coast, should continue to be avoided until 10 a.m. (2 GMT) on Monday, the ministry added.
On Sunday, China carried out “joint practical exercises in the sea and airspace around the island of Taiwan, as planned”the Chinese military said. These exercises were aimed “test joint ground firepower and long-range air strike capabilities”he added.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry confirmed that China had sent “planes, ships and drones” around the Taiwan Strait“simulating attacks on the main island of Taiwan.”
The ministry detected 66 planes and 14 ships in the strait that separates mainland China from the island, including 22 that crossed the median line, which divides this maritime space in two. China does not recognize this line, which was unilaterally drawn by the United States during the Cold War.
In addition, a Chinese drone also flew over Kinmen Island, about ten kilometers from the Chinese city of Xiamen, forcing the Taiwanese army to launch flares, according to local authorities.
Taiwan reported that it mobilized a “joint intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance system to closely monitor the enemy situation,” in addition to sending planes and ships.
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Their Tseng ChangTaiwan’s prime minister, noted that China is “barbarically using military action” to disrupt the peace in the Taiwan Strait.
For its part, the Taiwanese Foreign Ministry considered that these maneuvers are a “threat to the region and the world.”
To show how close it was to the shores of Taiwan, the Chinese military released a video of the island’s coastline and mountains shot by a pilot.
He also disclosed a photo that he claims was taken from one of his military ships that was patrolling near Taiwan and in which the coast of the island can be seen in the distance.
Taiwan has stood its ground during the Chinese maneuvers and said it will not be intimidated by its “evil neighbor”.
But experts warn that the exercises reveal that the Chinese military is increasingly capable of carrying out a harsh blockade of the self-ruled island, as well as obstructing the arrival of US forces.
“In some areas, their capabilities could even exceed the capabilities of the United States”he told the agency AFP Grant Newshama researcher at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies and a former US Navy officer.
“If a (future) battle is confined to the area around Taiwan, the Chinese navy is a dangerous opponent, and if the Americans and Japanese don’t intervene for some reason, it would be very difficult for Taiwan,” he added.
The scale of the maneuvers and Beijing’s decision to withdraw from crucial bilateral talks have provoked a barrage of condemnation.
US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkendenounced on Saturday a “disproportionate” reaction, and estimated that China must not take discussions on issues such as climate change “hostage”because “it does not punish the United States, but the whole world.”
The Secretary General of the UN, Anthony Guterreswarned that “it is impossible to solve the world’s most pressing problems without effective dialogue and cooperation between the two countries,” according to his spokesman.
With information from AFP
Keep reading:
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China’s blockade of Taiwan and why Xi Jinping is playing with fire
Source-www.infobae.com