Highlights: Beijing to monitor military exercises on Taiwanese island of Kinmen. Since the death of two mainland fishermen pursued by Taiwanese coast guards near Kinmen last month, tension remains high between Beijing and Taipei. Located a short ferry ride from the Chinese city of Xiamen, the island is constantly surrounded by People's Liberation Army ships. Described as routine exercises, the maneuvers of the Taiwanese army on these islets, transformed into advanced posts near the Chinese coast, must last around twenty days in April 2024.

Since the death of two mainland fishermen pursued by Taiwanese coast guards near the island of Kinmen last month, tension remains high between Beijing and Taipei.

Beijing to monitor military exercises on Taiwanese island of Kinmen

Since the death of two mainland fishermen pursued by Taiwanese coast guards near the island of Kinmen last month, tension remains high between Beijing and Taipei.

Anti-landing systems in Kinmen. Located a short ferry ride from the Chinese city of Xiamen, the island is constantly surrounded by People's Liberation Army ships. AFP

By: RFI with AFP

Located a few minutes by ferry from the Chinese city of Xiamen, Kinmen Island is constantly surrounded by ships of the People's Liberation Army, writes our correspondent in Beijing,

Stéphane Lagarde

. Described as routine exercises, the

maneuvers

of the Taiwanese army on these islets, transformed into advanced posts near the Chinese coast, must last around twenty days in April 2024.

Exercises which will be observed very closely, said Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwanese affairs office within the Chinese State Council: “

The Taiwanese authorities of the DPP know very well whether it is a question of regular exercise or a targeted provocation. We are closely monitoring the Taiwanese army's movements in Kinmen, and if they cause trouble or dare to act rashly, they will definitely be defeated.

“

Building bridges
”

Referring to the ruling Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party, the representative of Taiwan affairs within the Chinese government took the opportunity to appeal to the residents of Kinmen who, he said, prefer to "build

bridges

", an allusion to a bridge with the continent proposed by several political parties on the island.

Chinese President Xi Jinping tirelessly repeats that the reunification of

Taiwan

with mainland China, whose destiny has been separated for 75 years and the end of the Chinese civil war, is inevitable. The Taiwanese presidential election won in January 2024 by Lai Ching-te, from a party traditionally campaigning for independence, has further strained already difficult relations between Beijing and Taipei.

Beijing to monitor military exercises on Taiwanese island of Kinmen

Beijing to monitor military exercises on Taiwanese island of Kinmen

“

Building bridges
”

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Beijing to monitor military exercises on Taiwanese island of Kinmen

Beijing to monitor military exercises on Taiwanese island of Kinmen

“ Building bridges ”

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“

Building bridges
”