China’s Display of Military Might Sends Strong Signal to Taiwan Following US Visit

After a recent trip to the United States by Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai, China has started conducting military drills by air and sea in the vicinity of Taiwan to issue a “stern warning” to separatist troops there.

Taiwan retaliated on Saturday, claiming that Beijing’s “militaristic mentality” was emphasized by the drills and that Taiwanese forces had been tasked with keeping an eye on Chinese forces using combat aircraft, navy ships, and land-based missile systems.

According to the eastern command, the exercises were designed to test combat capabilities and ship-aircraft coordination in order to take control of the air and sea space.

The maneuvers were swiftly denounced by Taiwan’s defense ministry, which claimed that the country had the capability, resolve, and confidence to maintain national security and has deployed the necessary forces to respond.

 During the drills, the ministry reported that 42 Chinese aircraft, eight ships, and 26 aircraft had crossed the median line, which divides the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and served as an informal boundary in the past.

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Taiwan’s Response to Chinese Drills

The defense ministry announced on social media that Taiwan combat aircraft, land-based missile systems, and naval boats have been dispatched to monitor the drills.

Lai, the vice president of Taiwan and the likely candidate to win the January presidential election, arrived back in Taiwan on Friday after spending time in the US en route to and from a state visit to Paraguay.

To coincide with Lai’s arrival in the US, the Chinese foreign ministry released a statement stating that it was opposed to any kind of visit by “Taiwan independence separatists” to the US.

 In response to Chinese military drills, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu stated on Saturday that it was up to Taiwan’s population to decide on their upcoming elections, “not the bully next door.”

 China claims Taiwan as its own territory, and Beijing hasn’t ruled out using force to seize control of the democratic, self-governing island. In reaction to what it considers “collusion” between Taipei and Washington, Beijing has increased military activities close to the island in recent years.

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Source: Aljazeera