After its South China Sea naval show, Beijing announces life-fire drill near Taiwan
The exercise is set for 18 April, 40 km off the island of Kinmen. Today's parade involved 10,000 troops, 76 planes and 48 ships, including an aircraft carrier, destroyers, and submarines. Xi Jinping watched the show on the Liaoning aircraft carrier.
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In a surprise move today, China announced a live-fire drill in the Taiwan Strait next week, just a few hours after it held its biggest naval parade in history, “the largest of its kind in 600 years”, according to Chinese media.
The exercise in the Taiwan Strait will take place from 8 am to midnight next Wednesday, in a zone 20 km from the coast of Quanzhou in Fujian Province, and 40 km from the Taiwan-controlled island of Kinmen.
This naval exercise will be in these waters since September 2015 in the lead-up to Taiwan’s presidential election, which the Democratic Progress Party Tsai Ing-wen won.
Given the fact that her party is in favour of Taiwan's independence, Sino-Taiwanese relations have become increasingly tense.
Today’s display involved more than 10,000 People’s Liberation Army airmen, marines and sailors on 48 naval vessels, including an aircraft carrier and submarines, as well as 76 aircrafts. Some of the vessels have sea-land-air attack capabilities.
Chinese President Xi Jinping followed the parade on board the Liaoning, China’s first aircraft carrier for the first time since it was declared combat-ready.
In his address to the troops, Xi urged them to stay vigilant and be ready to defend China’s sovereignty and national interests, as well as safeguard regional peace and stability. The tropps responded with hurrahs.
Beijing claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, which is disputed by other countries bordering the sea, as well as the United States.
According to military experts, today’s show of force was directed at them.
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07/05/2022 14:36
03/12/2010
