China has started three days of military drills “around” Taiwan from Saturday, after the island’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, returned from US visits that infuriated Beijing.
The People’s Liberation Army announced the drills and patrols in airspace and waters on the north, south and east sides of Taiwan as “serious warnings” against Taiwan separatists in “collusion with external forces”.
The amphibious landing ship – capable of transporting troops, craft and vehicles – fired multiple rounds of artillery in the Luoyan Bay area on the coast of Fujian province, about 50 kilometres north-west of the Matsu islands near the mainland that are controlled by Taiwan.Eastern Theatre Command spokesman Senior Colonel Shi Yi said in a statement the exercises would last from April 8 to 10 and will be conducted “according to plan”.
The Taiwanese Defence Ministry said it had detected 13 PLA aircraft and three vessels around the island in the 24 hours to Saturday morning, placing it on high alert to defend national security. Later it said more than 40 Chinese military planes briefly crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line. Beijing’s latest announcement of the military exercises came after French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrapped up a three-day visit to the country on Friday. Taiwan’s former leader Ma Ying-jeou also left the country on Friday after a historic 12-day visit., two think tanks, and the venue that hosted Tsai in California. The Taiwanese leader had urged Beijing not to overreact before her departure from Los Angeles on Thursday.
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