China said Monday it is conducting “major” military exercises around Taiwan, with live-firing activities to be conducted Tuesday across five zones in waters and airspace near the island.
The latest show of force follows a bumper round of arms sales to Taipei by the United States, Taiwan’s main security backer.
Beijing‘s military “is employing destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles” in the drills Monday that include “live-fire training on maritime targets to the north and southwest of Taiwan”, a statement by the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command said.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s military said Monday it has deployed “appropriate forces” in response to China’s drills around the democratic island.
“A response center has been established, and appropriate forces have been deployed,” the military said, adding that its armed forces “have carried out a rapid response exercise”. (AFP)
