PLA shows strength near Taiwan coast

Taipei (Taiwan). China said on Monday that it has successfully completed its three-day military exercises near Taiwan, including the use of an aircraft carrier. The purpose of this display of military power by China was to express its indignation against Taiwan’s President Sai Ing-wen’s meeting with the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy. China’s state media reported here that the ‘Eastern Theater’ command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) successfully completed all tasks of patrolling and exercises around the island of Taiwan.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Sunday that 70 Chinese aircraft and 11 Chinese ships have been seen around Taiwan in the last 24 hours. China views Taiwan as a separate province. Beijing has not ruled out the possible use of force to reunite the self-ruled island with the mainland.

Analysts say the PLA exercise this time was similar to last August, when House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s predecessor, Nancy Pelosi, visited Taipei. She became the first major American leader to visit Taiwan. China deployed its aircraft carrier ‘Shandong’ and government channel CCTV showed missile firing from several coastal areas of China in the Taiwan Strait. China hosted former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou, leader of the Kuomintang (KMT) party, which advocates peaceful relations with Beijing. ‘Ma’ concluded his visit to China at the same time when Tsai Ing-wen visited America.

The PLA said on Saturday that its forces began military exercises around the island of Taiwan, which would run from April 8 to 10. Command spokesman Shi Yi said the patrols and exercises took place in the maritime zones and airspace of the Taiwan Strait, off the island’s north and south coasts and east of the island. Xi said that this campaign gives a stern warning against the collusion and provocative activities between separatist forces and external forces seeking ‘Taiwan independence’. Xi said the operations are necessary to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Meanwhile, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday that separatist acts of ‘Taiwan independence’ and the collusion and support of external forces for them are the ‘biggest threat’ to peace in the Taiwan Strait.
Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the ministry, said in response to questions about ongoing military exercises around Taiwan Island, “We must oppose all acts of “Taiwan independence” for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” In order to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, we must resolutely oppose all forms of separatist acts related to “Taiwan independence,” Wang said at a media briefing here.

Wang expressed hope that the international community would understand the nature of the Taiwan question, adhere to the One-China principle, and oppose all forms of ‘Taiwan independence’ (separatist activities). Meanwhile, an editorial in ‘PLA Daily’ on Monday said that the US cannot be trusted to protect Taiwan. It accused Washington of using Taiwan as a pawn against China.