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Taiwan this Thursday detected the presence of 42 Chinese planes and 31 ships in the surroundings of the island and its peripheral archipelagos, during the first day of maneuvers launched by Beijing to “punish” “Taiwan separatist acts related to independence”.
At a press conference, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MDN) reported that 28 of these planes crossed the Taiwan Strait dividing line, an unofficial border that has been respected by Beijing and Taipei for decades, or entered Taiwan’s self-proclaimed air route. . Identification Zone (ADIZ), the highest number so far this year.
READ MORE | Taiwan mobilizes its sea, air and land forces ahead of China exercises
The MDN also detected 15 Navy ships and 16 Chinese Coast Guard ships sailing in the vicinity of Taiwan and the Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyn islands, archipelagos under Taiwanese control and located a few kilometers from China.
The Eastern Theater Command of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) announced the start of military exercises near Taiwan from 7:45 am this morning (23:45 GMT Wednesday), as “strong punishment” for “separatist acts related to the independence” of Taiwan.
China described the maneuvers as “completely legitimate and necessary”, and noted that they are “in line with international law and practice”.
SEE MORE | China begins military exercises “around” Taiwan as “strong punishment” for “separatist acts”
For their part, both the Government and Taiwan’s two main opposition parties expressed their condemnation of these movements on Thursday.
Along these lines, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated that Taiwan “will continue to defend its belief in democracy” and will not change “due to coercion” by China, which considers the island, governed autonomously since 1949, as a “rebellious province”.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
