– This is a stern warning to Taiwan’s independence separatists who collaborate with foreign makers to provoke, says a brief statement from China’s military, reproduced in state media.
The exercise is for both the navy and the air force, and takes place in the area around Taiwan, it says.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry strongly condemns the military exercise, saying it will send “appropriate” forces to respond.
Recently, Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai visited the United States before going on to Paraguay, which has drawn strong criticism from China. In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it disavowed any visit by Taiwan separatists to the United States.
According to opinion polls, Lai is the favorite to take over from President Tsai Ing-wen in the elections in January next year. China is unenthusiastic about Lai, calling him a troublemaker.
Taiwan is an autonomous territory that the authorities in Beijing consider part of China. The UN and the vast majority of the world’s countries relate to this “one China principle”.
2023-08-19 03:43:38
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