TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan spotted dozens of Chinese planes and warships off its coast on Friday, on the second day of a large military exercise held by Beijing to show its displeasure over the takeover of the autonomous island of the new leaders, who refuse to give in to their insistence that Taiwan is part of China.
China has issued elaborate press releases showing Taiwan surrounded by the People’s Liberation Army. A new video, released on Friday, shows animations of Chinese forces approaching from all flanks and Taiwan locked in a circular area, while simulated missiles attack key targets in populated and military areas.
Despite this, there are few signs of concern among Taiwan’s 23 million people, who have lived under the threat of Chinese invasion since the two nations separated during a civil war in 1949. On Friday, the Taiwanese Parliament was involved in a dispute between political parties over procedural measures, and things continued as usual in bustling Taipei, the capital, and the ports of Keelong and Kaohsiung.
The Ministry of Defense indicated that it detected 49 combat aircraft and 19 Navy ships, as well as coast guard vessels, and that 35 of the planes flew across the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which is the de facto border between both sides. , during a period of 24 hours, from Thursday to Friday.
Taiwanese Navy and Coast Guard vessels, along with air and ground missile units, have been put on alert, particularly around the Taiwan-controlled Kinmen and Matsu island chains, off the coast of China and away from the main island of Taiwan.
“In the face of external challenges and threats, we will continue to uphold the values of freedom and democracy,” new Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te told senior sailors and security officials on Thursday on a visit to a Navy base. in Taoyuan, south of Taipei.
The Pentagon said the United States was “watching very closely” the joint Chinese exercises. He noted that Beijing’s actions “are reckless, increase risk and undermine long-standing norms that have maintained regional peace and stability for decades.”
“We strongly urge Beijing to exercise restraint,” he said.
