China began this Thursday (04.15.2021) military exercises that will last for six days in southwestern Taiwan, at a time when the island is receiving a visit from a US delegation.
The Maritime Security Administration of China published a statement on its website the day before, banning any vessel from entering the affected area, where live ammunition tests will be carried out.
According to the source, the maneuvers will take place between 08:00 and 18:00 local time (00:00 and 10:00 GMT) every day between April 15 and 20 in the Nanpeng archipelago, belonging to the province. Southeast China from Canton and located in the Taiwan Strait.
These maneuvers coincide in time with the visit to Taiwan of former US Senator Chris Dodd and former Deputy Secretaries of State Richard Armitage and James Steinberg, who landed on the island on Wednesday, an event that has fueled tension between Beijing and Washington.
In addition, in recent weeks, Taiwan has detected a growing number of incursions – both in frequency and volume – by Chinese military aircraft into its air defense identification zone.
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen reacted to the Chinese military exercises by telling former US officials that such activities by Beijing “threaten the peace and stability of the region.”
Tsai also urged the Washington authorities to start “as soon as possible” talks on trade issues.
Tensions between China and the United States rose considerably during the term of former US President Donald Trump, who prioritized strengthening relations with Taiwan, including arms sales, despite the fact that in 1979 Washington broke off relations with Taipei in favor of the People’s Republic.
Taiwan has been governed autonomously since 1949 – when the Kuomintang nationalists took refuge on the island, after losing the civil war against the communists – although Beijing claims sovereignty over it and has not ruled out the use of force to regain it.
gs (efe, reuters)
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