China Conducts New Military Exercises Near Taiwan
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it continued its military drills around Taiwan on Monday, August 8.
The army’s Eastern Theater Command said its “multi-type anti-submarine platforms have closely coordinated and carried out anti-submarine operations" in the “sea and airspace around Taiwan Island.”
The PLA posted video that they said showed warships, fighter jets, and helicopters conducting drills.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it detected 39 Chinese warplanes and 13 ships operating in the strait on Monday.
On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China would “firmly safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, stop the US’s attempt to play the “Taiwan card” to contain China, and shatter the Taiwan authorities’ wishful thinking to pursue “Taiwan independence” by soliciting the support of the US."
US news reported President Joe Biden is “concerned” China is “moving as much as they are,” but said he did not expect the situation to escalate further.
Taiwan’s official Central News Agency reported that Taiwan’s army will conduct live-fire artillery drills in southern Pingtung county on Tuesday, August 9, and Thursday, August 11, in response to the Chinese exercises. Credit: People’s Liberation Army via Storyful
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