BEIJING (AP) — China said military drills by its navy, air force and other departments were underway in six areas surrounding Taiwan.
The drills were sparked by a visit to the island by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week and are meant to announce China’s threat to attack the self-governing island republic in response to measures aimed at consolidating its de facto independence from Chinese rule. with the support of a key ally, the United States
China’s official Xinhua news agency said the drills were joint operations focusing on “blockading, assaulting sea targets, striking ground targets and controlling airspace”. Taiwan has put its army on high alert and organized civil defense exercises, while the United States has numerous naval assets in the region.
The exercises are due to run from Thursday to Sunday and include missile strikes on targets in the seas north and south of the island in an echo of the last major Chinese military drills aimed at intimidating Taiwan’s leaders and voters in 1995 and 1996.
The exercises involved troops from the Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force and Logistics Support Force under Eastern Theater Command.
The Associated Press
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