Chinese naval and air exercises in the Taiwan Strait
Washington and Taipei are trying to stay close, but Beijing does not.
Photo: US and Taiwanese flags in Taipei, March 27, 2018 © REUTERS / Tyrone Siu
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Chinese warships, anti-submarine planes and fighter jets carried out exercises off the island of Taiwan on Tuesday, August 17, 2021.
A response, according to Beijing, to the “
provocations
” of Taipei and Washington, and to American interference.
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The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) wrote in a statement that China had sent its aircraft to perform "
joint assault maneuvers and other exercises with troops
" on Tuesday.
The statement explains that the United States and Taiwan have recently "
increased provocations and sent false signals seriously undermining the sovereignty of China and seriously compromising peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait
."
In the eyes of the Chinese army, the exercise is justified by "
the need to preserve national sovereignty
" over Taiwan.
“
This is a solemn response to outside interference and provocations from the pro-independence forces in Taiwan.
"
The Taiwanese Defense responded that Taipei has "
a perfect understanding and full assessment of the situation in the Taiwan Strait area, as well as related developments at sea and in the air, and is prepared for various responses."
"
→ To re-read: Unprecedented incursion of Chinese military planes at the gates of Taiwan
The United States approved in early August a new arms sales program in Taipei, an artillery system valued at $ 750 million, or 637 million euros.
The People's Republic of China has little taste for this type of trade with its “
rebel province
”.
For the past few days, the Chinese state media have tried to scare the Taiwanese by comparing the ancient island of Formosa to Afghanistan "
abandoned
" by the Americans and the West in general.
The implication: in the event of an invasion, America will not budge.
After the weight of words, the shock of circles in the water.
Chinese state media since this weekend have compared Taiwan to Afghanistan "abandoned" by the United States.
Understood: if we get into you, the American friend will go fishing ... https://t.co/bijAnMrJRQ
- Stéphane Lagarde (@StephaneLagarde) August 17, 2021
So far, Washington has not changed its defense commitments to Taipei.
Even some of those who put a modest veil on moral issues to speak only of interests, note that America currently retains a strategic interest in the Strait of Formosa.
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