China is particularly unhappy with US support for Taiwan. (representative)
Beijing:
The Chinese military said on Wednesday it had been conducting a combat patrol in the seas and airspace around Taiwan in recent days, saying it was a necessary move to respond to the “collusion” between Washington and Taipei.
China, which claims Taiwan is democratically governed as its own territory, has stepped up its military maneuvers around the island over the past two years as it tries to pressure Taipei into accepting its sovereignty claims.
China is particularly unhappy with US support for Taiwan.
US President Joe Biden infuriated China last week by appearing to signal a change in a US policy of “strategic ambiguity” towards Taiwan, saying the United States would become militarily involved if China attacked the island. US officials said there had been no change in policy.
In a statement, the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army said the combat-readiness patrol had taken place around Taiwan in recent days and that it was a necessary action against the collusion between the US and Taiwan.
“The United States has recently taken many steps on the Taiwan issue, saying one thing and doing another, and supporting Taiwan’s independence forces, which will put Taiwan in a dangerous situation,” the command added. ready.
Taiwan is part of China and Chinese forces continue to strengthen military training and preparations to “thwart” interference from outside forces and actions by those who support Taiwan’s independence.
Although the statement did not give an exact date for when the exercise took place, Taiwan on Monday reported the largest raid since January by the Chinese air force in its air defense zone. The island’s defense ministry said Taiwanese fighters rushed to warn 30 planes away.
Taiwan has repeatedly complained about such missions in its Air Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ.
No shots were fired and the Chinese planes have not flown into Taiwan’s airspace, but in its wider area, ADIZ, Taiwan is monitoring and patrolling, giving it more time to respond to any threats.
Taiwan says only the people have the right to decide the island’s future, and rejects China’s claims of sovereignty.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.)
