Map
Chinese maneuvers encircle Taiwan
Crew members of the Chinese missile destroyer Qingdao, departing for military exercises in the East China Sea (archive).
PA
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2 mins
The visit to Taiwan by Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has been denounced by China, which has notably ordered maritime and air military exercises around Taiwan as well as conventional missile tests at sea east of Taiwan. 'island.
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Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on Wednesday that the island "
would not back down
" in the face of the threat from China, which is preparing to launch military maneuvers dangerously close to the Taiwanese coast in retaliation for
Nancy Pelosi's visit.
.
China's Defense Ministry has pledged "
targeted military actions
", with a series of military maneuvers around the island starting on Thursday, including "
long-range live ammunition firing
" in the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island in mainland China.
These exercises “
constitute a necessary and legitimate measure in order to respond to the serious provocations of certain American politicians and Taiwanese separatists
”, Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the press.
According to the coordinates published by the Chinese army, part of the military operations must take place 20 kilometers from the coast of Taiwan.
"
Some of
China's maneuver
areas encroach on ... Taiwan's territorial waters
," Taiwan Defense Ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang said.
"
This is an irrational act aimed at challenging the international order
," he said.
The Mainland Affairs Council, the body that sets the Taiwanese government's policy toward Beijing, has accused the Chinese regime of practicing "
vicious bullying
" that will "
seriously impact the peace and prosperity of the all of East Asia
”.
Japan meanwhile said it was "
concerned
" about the Chinese drills, saying some would encroach on its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
A map of Chinese military maneuvers around Taiwan.
© FMM Graphic Studio
The "strategic ambiguity" of the United States
Taiwan authorities reported overnight Tuesday-Wednesday that 21 Chinese military planes entered the island's air defense identification zone - an area much larger than its airspace.
The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense assured that the army would "
protect national security
".
Several American ships also cruise in the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, according to American military sources.
Most observers rate the likelihood of armed conflict as low.
But US officials said they were preparing for shows of force from the Chinese military.
Even though US officials visit the island regularly, China considers the visit of Ms. Pelosi, the third person in the US state, to be a major provocation.
Last week, in a telephone interview with his counterpart Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping had already called on the United States not to "
play with fire
".
Since 1979, Washington has recognized only one Chinese government, that of Beijing, while continuing to provide support to the Taiwanese authorities, in particular via major arms sales.
The United States also practices "
strategic ambiguity
", refraining from saying whether or not it would defend Taiwan militarily in the event of an invasion.
(With Afp)
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