China begins ‘largest-ever’ military exercises around Taiwan

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) started the nation’s ‘largest-ever’ military drills, including live firing on the waters and in the airspace surrounding the island of Taiwan, on Thursday, according to Chinese state television, a day after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan amid Chinese threats regarding the decision.

According to state television, the live-fire drills and other training activities around Taiwan will cease at 12:00 p.m. (0400 GMT) on Sunday.

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/1554987013996445697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow noopener
“Six major areas around the island have been selected for this actual combat exercise and during this period, relevant ships and aircraft should not enter the relevant waters and airspaces,” state broadcaster CCTV reported.

On the other hand, Taiwan’s defence ministry stated that it was closely monitoring the drills and that the island was ready for battle but would not actively seek it.

As Pelosi left Taiwan on Wednesday, China reacted angrily to her visit by escalating military action in the region’s waters, summoning the US ambassador to Beijing, and suspending several Taiwanese agricultural imports.

China’s commerce ministry forbade the export of natural sand to Taiwan, while its customs department imposed a halt of imports of citrus fruits and specific fish from Taiwan, including chilled white striped hairtail and frozen horse mackerel.