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It was like scenes from a war over a sophisticated topography dubbed „Joint Sword“ by Beijing: a mock invasion on Taiwan by Communist China – a „stern warning“ about „provocations of the ‚Taiwanese independence‘ separatist forces and external forces,“ said Col. Shi Yi on the sea and air drills.
In the footage a Taiwanese sailor can be heard telling the Chinese ship through a radio: „You are seriously harming regional peace, stability and security. Please immediately turn around and leave. If you continue to proceed we will take expulsion measures.“
China began three days of military „war games“ around Taiwan after the island’s president, Tsai Ing-wen, met April 5 with Speaker Kevin McCarthy, in a show of Taiwanese-U.S. solidarity.
As the New York Times reported, „The People’s Liberation Army said it was holding air and sea ‚combat readiness‘ patrols and drills on all four sides of Taiwan, including the strait between the island and China, in what appeared to be a concerted burst of retaliation over [the Tsai-McCarthy] meeting in California on Wednesday.
„The authorities also announced a live-fire exercise on waters near Pingtan, an island just off the Chinese coast facing Taiwan. Additionally, Taiwan’s defense ministry said that on Saturday morning China sent 42 military aircraft into the skies around the island, including 29 that crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait, an informal boundary between the two sides.“
On Sunday, China simulated precision strikes against key targets on Taiwan and its surrounding waters. Taiwan said about 70 Chinese aircraft flew around the island. Eleven Chinese ships were also spotted.
