This Thursday, China began “punishment” exercises in which armed fighter jets carry out simulated attacks near Taiwan. The maneuvers are the response to the separatist offenses of its new president, Lai Ching-te, very positioned with the West. Already in his acceptance speech, Lai urged China to end its threats to the island and assured that “the two sides of the strait are not subordinate to each other”; a statement that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has described as “shameful.”
Military exercises began early Thursday in areas near and surrounding Taiwan and several islands near China but controlled by Taiwan; It is the first time that China includes these islands in its military maneuvers. The army, navy, air force and rocket force are involved: dozens of fighter planes with real missiles and warships.
For its part, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has condemned the exercises and has deployed its air force and missile units around the island to track the Asian giant’s activities.
