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The People’s Liberation Army said on Monday that China’s armed forces conducted another round of manoeuvres near Taiwan last week to better joint combat operations, following a surge in activity on the Chinese-controlled island.
For the past two years, Taiwan has complained about regular Chinese military action in its vicinity, which is largely centred in the island’s air defence identification zone, or ADIZ.
On Friday, Taiwan’s air force scrambled to warn away 18 Chinese aircraft that had entered its air defence zone, and more incursions were reported on Saturday and Sunday, though with fewer planes.
The Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army stated in a statement that navy and air force assets conducted manoeuvres to the east and southwest of Taiwan from Friday to Sunday.
It stated that the exercises aimed to “further test and develop the joint fighting capacity of numerous services and armaments.”
The weaponry involved, according to Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, includes bombers, fighters, and anti-submarine planes.
There have been no guns fired, and the Chinese planes have been flying in Taiwan’s ADIZ, a larger area that Taiwan monitors and patrols to give it more time to respond to any threats.
Eight Chinese military vessels, including an aircraft carrier, travelled between islands in Japan’s southern Okinawa chain, northeast of Taiwan, last week, according to Japan.
Last week, Taiwan conducted pre-announced missile and other drills off its southern and southeastern coasts.
China has never denied using force to reclaim democratically-ruled Taiwan, and the Taiwan Strait remains a potentially hazardous military flashpoint.
China’s claims to sovereignty are rejected by Taiwan’s government, which says that only the island’s 23 million people have the power to decide their fate.
