Taiwan on Tuesday, the training defense of the island began with real artillery fire after large-scale military maneuvers carried out by China around his territory in recent days, an AFP journalist on the spot told.
Lou Voei-Jerepresentative 8th Taiwan Army Corpsconfirmed that the exercise began in southern Pingtung shortly after 00:40 GMT with the launch of rockets and artillery.
He added that the maneuvers were supposed to end around 01:30 GMT.
China launches largest military exercise Taiwan last week in response to the visit of the Speaker of the House of Representatives USA, Nancy Pelosi, this self-governing island for decades.
Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion from China, which considers the territory its province, which one day can be restored, if necessary by force.
Taiwan’s drills, which will take place on Tuesday and Thursday, will include the deployment of hundreds of troops and about 40 howitzers, the army said.
On Monday, Lu said the drills were already planned and were not a response to China’s actions.
The democratically ruled island regularly hosts Chinese invasion exercises and last month practiced repelling naval attacks during its largest annual exercise.
warnings
US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkencondemned on Saturday “complete disproportion” Chinese response and issued a joint statement with their Japanese and Australian counterparts calling on China to stop the military exercises.
On Monday, Taiwan criticized China for extending military exercises.
“Ministry of Foreign Affairs sentence firmly China’s decision to extend its military exercises. Chinese provocation and aggression have disrupted the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and increased tension in the area,” Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
In response to Pelosi’s visit, China suspended cooperation with the US in several key areas, including combating climate change and defense issues.
China is not far behind
China continued on Monday military training about Taiwanignoring calls from the West and Japan to stop the largest military maneuvers in its history around the island, which it considers part of its territory.
“The People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA) continued to execute practical joint exercises and training in the sea and airspace around the island of Taiwan, with a focus on conducting joint submarine and maritime strike operations,” the Chinese Eastern Command said in a statement.
China began live firing in six major areas around Taiwan on Thursday, the day after the visit of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. Nancy Pelosimade on the island.
The exercise was originally scheduled to end at 04:00 GMT on Sunday afternoon, according to China’s Maritime Safety Administration.
(AFP)
Source: RPP
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