23 May 2024 , 10:31
796
0
Taiwan has detected 28 aircraft and 15 military vessels near the island as China launches a huge "punishment" exercise.
Taiwan had scrambled jets and put missile, naval and land units on alert Thursday over Chinese military exercises being conducted around the self-governing island democracy where a new president took office this week.
China’s military said its two-day exercises around Taiwan were punishment for separatist forces seeking independence.
The Military of National Defence held a press conference in which Major General Huang Wenqi declared a total of 15 Chinese naval forces had been detected, including 15 combat ships and 16 coast guard ships. 28 aircarfts also entered the response area.
READ MORE: Taiwan scrambles jets and puts naval units on alert amid China military drills
Taiwan reveals Elon Musk-style plot to resist China using 'army of satellites'
A ship is seen near a fishing port in Taiwan's Kinmen (AFP via Getty Images)Beijing claims the island is part of China’s national territory and the People’s Liberation Army sends navy ships and warplanes into the Taiwan Strait and other areas around the island almost daily to wear down Taiwan’s defenses and seek to intimidate its people, who firmly back their de facto independence.
China’s “irrational provocation has jeopardized regional peace and stability,” the island’s Defence Ministry said. It said Taiwan will seek no conflicts but “will not shy away from one.”
Taiwan detects 28 aircraft and 15 military vessels near the island as China launches 'punishment' exercise (Ministry of National Defense of Mainland China)In his inauguration address on Monday, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te called for Beijing to stop its military intimidation and pledged to “neither yield nor provoke” the mainland Communist Party leadership.
“Facing external challenges and threats, we will continue to maintain the values of freedom and democracy,” Lai told sailors and top security officials Thursday as he visited a marine base in Taoyuan, just south of the capital Taipei.
The main opposition Nationalist Party, which is generally seen as pro-China, also condemned Beijing’s actions.
Taiwanese air force Mirage 2000 fighter jets wait for take off at a base in Hsinchu (AFP via Getty Images)The Nationalists, also known as the KMT, called on “the opposite side of the (Taiwan Strait) to exercise restraint, cease unnecessary maneuvers, avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait and maintain the cherish the results of peace and development between the sides.”
Thursday’s tensions came amid protests outside Taiwan’s legislature against moves by the Nationalists and allies to use their slim majority to force through legislation that could affect military budgets and key judicial and other appointments.
Helicopters fly over with Taiwan national flag during an inauguration celebration of Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te in Taipei, Taiwan (AP)The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command said the land, navy and air exercises around Taiwan are meant to test the navy and air capabilities of the PLA units, as well as their joint strike abilities to hit targets and win control of the battlefield, the command said on its official Weibo account.
“This is also a powerful punishment for the separatist forces seeking ‘independence’ and a serious warning to external forces for interference and provocation,” the statement said.