• With its fourth day of drills, China maintains its pressure on Taiwan

    International
    With its fourth day of drills, China maintains its pressure on Taiwan

    In retaliation to the Chinese exercises, the Taiwanese army will conduct live-fire artillery training in southern Pingtung County on Tuesday and Thursday, according to the official Central News Agency of Taiwan. color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">

    color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">Digital Desk: In response to US House Speaker
    Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-governing island, China claimed Sunday that it
    has conducted military manoeuvres for a fourth straight day in the air and on
    the sea around Taiwan. This was done in spite of calls from other countries to
    defuse the situation.



    mso-themecolor:text1">The People's Liberation Army said that the exercises were
    designed to evaluate its land and air long-range strikes. It did not specify if
    the drills would continue after Sunday.



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    Taiwan claimed that it has continued to spot
    numerous Chinese planes, ships, and drones flying across the Taiwan Strait,
    which divides the island from the mainland. These aircraft, ships, and drones
    were allegedly "simulating attacks on the island of Taiwan and our ships
    at sea." According to Taiwan's defence ministry, joint naval and air
    exercises by 66 Chinese aircraft and 14 Chinese warships were being conducted
    near the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan responded by deploying naval ships, shore-based
    missiles, and air reconnaissance patrols while announcing that it would keep a
    careful eye on the situation.



     



    In retaliation to the Chinese exercises, the
    Taiwanese army will conduct live-fire artillery training in southern Pingtung
    County on Tuesday and Thursday, according to the official Central News Agency
    of Taiwan.



     



    According to the article, which cited an
    unnamed source, the drills will involve snipers, combat vehicles, armoured
    vehicles, as well as assault helicopters.



    For the four-day drills, which it announced
    immediately after Pelosi's visits to Taipei on Tuesday and Wednesday, China
    established no-go zones all around Taiwan, angering Beijing, which saw them as
    a breach of the "one-China" policy. China claims Taiwan and has
    stated that if necessary, it will use force to annex it. After a civil war, the
    two sides divided, yet Beijing views international dignitaries visiting Taiwan
    as an acknowledgement of its sovereignty.



     



    The Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan
    stressed that the military was monitoring the situation and has sent out
    aircraft and ships to take appropriate action.



     



    The international community has been urged to
    "defend democratic Taiwan" and "prevent any escalation of the
    regional security situation," according to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen.



     



    China has so far sent warships across the
    Taiwan Straits middle line and launched missile attacks on targets in the
    waters near Taiwan. In retaliation for Pelosi's visit, it has also stopped
    discussing climate change and defence with the US and sanctioned Pelosi.



     



    The "one-China" policy, which
    acknowledges Beijing as the legal government but permits informal relations and
    defence links with Taipei, is upheld, according to the Biden administration and
    Pelosi.



     



    However, the US denounced Beijing's moves in
    the Taiwan Strait, describing them as "fundamentally irresponsible"
    according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.



     



    This escalated situation "has no
    justification or need," declared Jean-Pierre.



    The US-China tensions over Taiwan, according
    to Singapore's coordinating minister for national security Teo Chee Hean, are
    "an issue that can escalate to violence and war to the detriment of all
    parties involved, notably the people in Taiwan."



    Southeast Asia is suffering as a result of
    the tensions, Teo said, adding, "We hope that prudence will prevail."