He Taiwan Government This Thursday he expressed his strong rejection of the military exercises of the China regime carried out around the island, describing them as “irrational provocations” that undermine regional peace and stability
“The Ministry of National Defense strongly condemns such irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability,” the ministry said in a statement.
In response to China’s hostilities, Taiwan activated its sea, air and land forces to ensure the defense of its sovereignty.
“We have dispatched sea, air and land forces to respond… to defend Taiwan’s freedom, democracy and sovereigntyn,” said the Ministry of Defense.
“This military exercise not only does not help peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, but also highlights the militaristic mentality of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which is the essence of military expansionism and hegemony”he added.
Taipei will take “practical actions” to “protect the freedom, democracy and sovereignty” of Taiwan, according to the statement.
He further indicated that “in recent years, the CCP has continued to send planes and ships to harass (Taiwan), which has caused substantial damage to global peace and stability.”
Beijing justified these actions as a “strong penalty” against those considered responsible for separatist acts in the region.
China’s Eastern Theater Command reported that the exercises began at 7:45 a.m. and involve all Chinese forces. People’s Liberation Army (EPL), including the Navy and the air and missile forces.
The military activity takes place three days after the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, William Lai branded by Beijing as a “separatist” and “troublemaker.”
In his inauguration speech, Lai had urged China to “cease its political and military intimidation against Taiwan” and “maintain peace and stability.”
He also thanked the citizens who had “firmly defended democracy” with their vote in the January presidential elections, won by the person who until then was the vice president of the government.
The deployment covers areas of the Taiwan Straitalong with the north, south and east of the island and areas around the islands Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyn.
A military spokesman cited by the agency Xinhua He assured that the exercises “will focus on the combat readiness of joint sea-air patrols, joint takeover of comprehensive control of the battlefield and joint precision strikes against key targets”.
The exercises “will involve patrolling ships and aircraft approaching areas around the island of Taiwan and integrated operations within and outside the island chain to test the joint command forces’ actual combat capabilities.”
China and Taiwan have been governed separately since the end of the civil war in 1949, but Beijing claims sovereignty over the island and has never ruled out using force to take control.
Relations between both territories have deteriorated in recent years in which Beijing has increased military, diplomatic and economic pressure on the island.
The last time China announced military exercises similar events around Taiwan was in August, on the occasion of a stop by Lai in USA in the middle of a trip to Paraguay.
Then, state media also noted that the goal of the maneuvers was to test the army’s ability to “take control of air and sea spaces” and to fight “in real combat conditions.”
Months before, in April, the chinese armed forces They deployed other exercises that simulated surrounding the island after a meeting of then-president TSai Ing-wen in California with the speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy.
In 2022, China held massive military exercises in the area after McCarthy’s predecessor Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.
(With information from EFE and AFP)
