Planes and warships have been mobilized by the Chinese military around Taiwan for “military exercises”. This was announced by the Ministry of Defense in Beijing, explaining that the exercises, called Joint Sword 2024B, “serve to test the joint operational capabilities of the troops in the command theater”.
The authorities of Taipei – capital of Taiwan – have expressed “strong condemnation” of what he defined as “irrational and provocative acts” and they have «sent adequate forces to respond accordinglyin order to protect freedom and democracy and defend the sovereignty of Taiwan.
Already on Sunday, the presence of a Chinese aircraft carrier south of the island was detected in Taiwan.
USA: «seriously concerned»
The United States said it was “seriously concerned for joint military exercises of the People’s Liberation Army in and around the Taiwan Strait.” In a note, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller noted that Beijing’s response “with military provocations to a routine annual speech (by President Lai on October 10, ed.) was unjustified and risks degenerating». The invitation is “to act with moderation and avoid further actions that could undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region”, essential for regional peace and prosperity.
China: «USA stop arming the island»
The United States should “stop arming Taiwan” and “sending the wrong signals to the separatist forces for ‘Taiwan independence'”, said Taiwan Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ningin statements to journalists relaunched by the official media of the Asian giant. Mao insisted that the island “is part of China” and that it is “internal affairs”.
Taiwan – de facto independent, but a “rebel province” to be “reunified” by Beijing – relies on US support on the basis of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979.
