China’s military holds drills around Taiwan, says it is punishment after new president took office
China’s military is holding exercises surrounding Taiwan in what it called punishment for separatist forces seeking independence on the self-governed island where a new president took office this week
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — China's military held exercises surrounding Taiwan on Thursday in what it called punishment for separatist forces seeking independence on the self-governed island where a new president took office this week.
Beijing claims the island is part of China’s national territory and the People’s Liberation Army sends navy ships and warplanes into the Taiwan Strait and other areas around the island almost daily to wear down Taiwan’s defenses and seek to intimidate its people, who firmly back their de facto independence.
In his inauguration address on Monday, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te called for Beijing to stop its military intimidation and pledged to “neither yield nor provoke” the mainland Communist Party leadership.
The PLA's Eastern Theater Command started its two-day land, navy and air exercises Thursday morning, the unit said on its official Weibo account. “This is also a powerful punishment for the separatist forces seeking ‘independence’ and a serious warning to external forces for interference and provocation,” the statement said.
