NEW DELHI: China on Friday started second day of military drills around Taiwan in order to test the “capability of joint seizure of power, joint strikes and control of key territories”, People’s Liberation Army spokesperson Li Xi said.
The military exercise started on Thursday with Beijing calling it “strong punishment” for Taiwan’s “separatist acts.” It came three days after the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te.
Lai has often offered negotiations with China but has been rejected. He maintains that only Taiwanese people have the right to select their own future and opposes Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
China, which considers democratically controlled Taiwan its own territory,condemned Tai’sinaugural speech, in which he had asked Beijing to stop its threats and had stated that the two sides of the strait were “not subordinate to each other.”
The drills involve joint sea-air combat preparedness patrols, strikes on important targets, and integrated operations throughout Taiwan and its outlying islands, including Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin. The drills feature many branches of the Chinese military, such as the army, navy, air force, and rocket force.
In response, Taiwan has mobilized its sea, air, and ground forces in response to the drills.