China said it would carry out live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, the latest in a recent drumbeat of military activity that has once again heightened tensions in the region.
Tuesday’s drills come a week after the Chinese military launched record-setting exercises aimed at showing a potential blockade of Taiwan. They also follow a transit through the strait on Sunday by American and Canadian warships, in what a Chinese military spokesman called an attempt at “stirring hype” and “undermining peace and stability.”
The live-fire drills are expected to take place for four hours around China’s Niushan Island, the closest point between mainland China and Taiwan, and about 100 miles from Taipei. Drills were also scheduled at another location farther north. They were announced by the local Maritime Safety Administration in Fuzhou, the Chinese city that oversees Niushan.
Taiwan appeared to downplay the significance of the drills. The island’s premier, Cho Jung-tai, told reporters in Taipei on Tuesday that the exercises were a pointless threat.
“No matter the scale of the exercises, there should not be such meaningless shows frequently or near to Taiwan,” he said. “This will only cause sudden and unnecessary tension.”
We are having trouble retrieving the article content.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Israel carried out airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, southern Lebanon and southern Syria on Monday, killing at least 10 people,… Read More
The Israeli army said it had targeted military sites in southern Syria that posed a ‘threat to the State of… Read More
As families of victims mourned the loss of loved ones and kept an anxious vigil in hospitals on Monday, the… Read More
We look at how Gen Z is reshaping the very concept of retirement.Millions of young workers are turning away from traditional… Read More
Lionel Messi converts his first goal of the new season as Inter Miami defeat Atlanta United 2-1 in MLS Cup… Read More
Russia will seek guarantees that Nato will exclude Ukraine from membership and that Ukraine will remain neutral in any peace… Read More
This website uses cookies.