Today, Saturday, the Chinese army continues its military exercises in the South China Sea, while Taiwan is conducting military exercises with the participation of air and naval forces off its eastern coast.
The Chinese maneuvers include live-fire exercises, according to state media, without giving details of the scheduled duration.
In order to conduct the exercises, navigation near Pingtan Island in Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian Province, will be closed from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time Saturday.
Pingtan is located 125 km from Taiwan.
These exercises come under sensitive conditions in the region, especially after the entry of the US aircraft carrier "Ronald Reagan" and a group of US military ships to the South China Sea.
These maneuvers also coincide with Chinese protests against the upcoming visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, which angered China as it threatened what it called a harsh response.
On Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned his US counterpart, Joe Biden, of what he called "playing with fire" regarding the Taiwan issue, during a "frank" phone call, according to a statement published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Pelosi will start her Asian tour next Friday, during which she will visit Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia, and the trip to Taiwan is "temporary" in her schedule.
Beijing adopts the principle of "one China" and asserts that the People's Republic of China is the only party authorized to represent China in international forums, and occasionally threatens to use force and intervene militarily if Taiwan declares independence.
In the event of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, this will be the first visit by a US House speaker in 25 years, after Republican Newt Gingrich's trip in 1997 to meet with then Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui.
On the other hand, the Taiwanese army is conducting military maneuvers with live ammunition off the eastern coast of the island, with the participation of the air and naval forces.
Taiwan's Defense Ministry said the exercises were simulated to counter an attack that might come from the east, a reference to China.
The "Han Quang" (Glory of Han) exercises simulate urban warfare in Ukraine, with exercises in underground bunkers and the use of Stinger missiles that have proven their worth in confronting Russian forces.
đčđŒTaiwan's naval fleet warming up for #HanKuang38 exercise.
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Source:đ https://t.co/G7Zum63SSO https://t.co/IRxd6uRds4 pic.twitter.com/Hcll6ZBf2W
â Taiwan Military (@TaiwanMilitary) July 23, 2022
These are the major maneuvers in years for the semi-autonomous Taiwan, and it has raised its fears of a Chinese invasion, after the Russian war on Ukraine.
Relations between Beijing and Taiwan have been tense since 1949, when forces led by the "National Party" took control of Taiwan by force, following its defeat in the civil war in China, and the inauguration of the "Chinese Republic" on the island.
Beijing does not recognize the independence of Taiwan and considers it part of the Chinese territory and rejects any attempts to separate it from it. In return, Taiwan does not recognize the central government of Beijing.