The Chinese military said today (19th) that it conducted joint naval and air force patrols and training in the waters around Taiwan.
The training was held right after the leaders of the US, Korea and Japan finished the historic Camp David summit the day before and Taiwan’s next presidential candidate returned from a visit to the US.
Chinese People’s Liberation Army Eastern Front spokesman Sui said in a brief statement that the Eastern Front conducted combat-ready combined naval and air force patrols and training around Taiwan.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense also announced that it had detected 42 Chinese military aircraft and eight ships participating in exercises in the strait around Taiwan since this morning, and deployed ships and military aircraft in response.
“We strongly condemn this irrational provocation,” he said, emphasizing that Taiwan has the capacity, determination and confidence to ensure national security.
‘Reuters’ news agency analyzed China’s exercise as a warning to separatist forces seeking Taiwan’s independence.
Vice President Lai Ching-de, a candidate for the next president of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), recently returned home the day before via the United States after attending the inauguration ceremony for the new president of Paraguay.
Vice President Lai, who is leading the approval rating among candidates for the next presidential election, visited San Francisco in the west of the United States on his way home and said that relations between the United States and Taiwan are unprecedentedly good, emphasizing the fact that Taiwan has been working closely with democratic countries.
VOA News
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2023-08-19 12:18:20
