Chinese military stages drills around Taiwan to warn 'external forces'

"HONG KONG China's military on Monday dispatched air, navy and rocket troops to conduct joint military drills around the island of Taiwan, a move Beijing called a "stern warning" against separatist and "external interference" forces. Taiwan said it was placing its forces on alert and called the Chinese government "the biggest destroyer of peace." The drills came after Beijing expressed anger at U.S. arms sales to the territory and a statement by Japan's prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, saying its military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that the world's second-biggest economy says must come under its rule."

"Senior Col. Shi Yi, spokesperson of China's People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command, said the drills would be conducted in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of the island. Shi said the activities will focus on sea-air combat readiness patrol, "joint seizure of comprehensive superiority" and blockades on key ports. It was also the first large-scale military drill where the command publicly mentioned one of the goals was "all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain." "It is a stern warning against 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and external interference forces, and it is a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China's sovereignty and national unity," Shi said."

China deployed air, naval and rocket forces for joint drills around Taiwan, targeting the Taiwan Strait and areas north, southwest, southeast and east of the island. The exercises emphasize sea-air combat readiness patrols, "joint seizure of comprehensive superiority," and blockades on key ports, and publicly cited "all-dimensional deterrence outside the island chain." Taiwan placed forces on high alert, conducted rapid response and combat readiness drills, and described the exercises as evidence of aggression. Beijing framed the operations as a stern warning against "Taiwan independence" separatists and external interference amid U.S. arms sales and comments by Japan's prime minister.

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