China’s military said it had conducted “drill drills” in the sea and airspace around Taiwan on Sunday in response to an unspecified “provocation” by the democratically-ruled island and the United States.
Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has complained about repeated Chinese military activity in the vicinity for the past three years, as Beijing seeks to pressure Taipei to accept Chinese sovereignty.
China staged war games around Taiwan in August following a visit to Taipei by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and on Saturday condemned the US over a new defense authorization law that pushes for military assistance to Taiwan.
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In a brief statement, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command said it had conducted “joint combat readiness patrols and joint firepower attack drills” in Taiwan, though it did not specify the location. exact.
“This is a resolute response to the ongoing escalation of US-Taiwan collusion and provocation,” he added, without elaborating.
“Theater forces will take all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry declined to immediately comment.
The ministry publishes a daily report at 9 am (0100 GMT) of Chinese military activities near the island over the past 24 hours.
The United States is Taiwan’s most important international sponsor and arms supplier, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties. US arms sales to Taiwan are a constant irritant in Beijing’s relations with Washington.
Taiwan’s military is dwarfed by that of its big neighbor, China. Its air force in particular has come under pressure from having to repeatedly fight to undo Chinese raids near the island over the past three years or so.
The Chinese drills coincided with newly elected city mayors and county heads in Taiwan taking office after local elections on the island last month in which the ruling Democratic Progressive Party was defeated.
China has never given up using force to bring Taiwan under its control. Taiwan strongly questions China’s claims to sovereignty, saying only the island’s 23 million people can decide its future.
