Picture : Twitter/ ANI
China on Wednesday commenced military drills around Taiwan’s main island, according to Chinese state media, hours after US House Speaker departed from Taipei following a visit that has rankled Beijing.
Live-fire drills began in six identified zones around the island at noon local time, Al Jazeera reported citing China state media. According to Xinhua News Agency, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday organized joint combat training exercises in the northern, southwestern and southeastern waters and airspace off Taiwan Island.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi apparently called US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan a “manic, irresponsible and highly irrational” action by the United States.
Speaking at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting in Phnom Penh, Wang Yi said China has made the utmost diplomatic effort to avert crisis, but will never allow its core interests to be hurt.
Under the Eastern Theater Command, the exercises involved troops from the Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force and Logistic Support Force.
“The exercises focused on key training sessions including joint blockade, sea target assault, strike on ground targets, and airspace control operation, and the joint combat capabilities of the troops got tested in the military operations,” Xinhua added.
The Southeast Asian Foreign Ministers expressed concern over Taiwan as China began the massive military drills around Taiwan and warned that the situation could spark “open conflicts” and “unpredictable consequences” among major powers.
“ASEAN is concerned with the international and regional volatility, especially in the recent development in the area adjacent to the ASEAN region which could destabilize the region and eventually could lead to miscalculation, serious confrontation, open conflicts and unpredictable consequences among major powers,” as per the statement released by ASEAN.
