Military Power Displayed in Bohai Strait, Paritas Islands, and Paracel Islands
Lithuania's Establishment of Taiwan Representative Office Called a Malicious Political Plot by the US
[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The Chinese People's Liberation Army is increasing pressure on Taiwan by conducting military exercises in key maritime areas. In particular, military tensions in the Taiwan Strait are expected to escalate further as Taiwan plans to establish a representative office equivalent to an embassy in Lithuania.
China's state-run Global Times reported on the 21st that the Chinese People's Liberation Army conducted live-fire shooting exercises in the Pearl River estuary in Guangdong Province and the Wanshan Archipelago area.
This area is about 300 km away from the Pratas Islands (Chinese name: Dongsha Islands), which are effectively controlled by Taiwan. The Pratas Islands are a strategic maritime point that the Chinese navy must pass through to reach the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and nearby are the Paracel Islands (Chinese name: Xisha Islands, Vietnamese name: Hoang Sa Islands). The Chinese navy also conducted large-scale military exercises, including amphibious operations, in this area last year.
The Chinese navy also conducted large-scale naval exercises in the waters off Fujian Province adjacent to Taiwan on the 16th, the day after a U.S. military aircraft (C-146A) landed in Taiwan.
The Global Times cited a navigation restriction notice from the China Maritime Safety Administration, reporting that the Chinese military plans to conduct large-scale live-fire shooting exercises in the Bohai Strait area until the 1st of next month. The large-scale military exercises by the Chinese military appear to be preparations for unexpected situations such as military clashes with the United States.
Xu Guangyu, director of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, explained the background of the military exercises, saying, "The United States is demonstrating military power near the South China Sea to support Taiwan separatists," and "Since the U.S. is increasing military provocations, China is taking corresponding military measures." He warned that if the U.S. continues to worsen the situation, China will prepare even stronger countermeasures.
The Global Times, citing pro-government scholars, issued a warning regarding Taiwan's move to establish a representative office in Lithuania. It stated that Lithuania, which has diplomatic relations with China, establishing a Taiwanese representative office in its capital Vilnius violates the "One China" principle, and warned again that if Lithuania continues down the wrong path, measures such as severing diplomatic ties will be taken.
Xin Chang, deputy director of the U.S. Studies Center at Fudan University, said, "The United States is establishing disguised Taiwanese representative offices in various places under the name of 'American Institute in Taiwan' or 'American Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office,'" and that this sends the wrong signal to Taiwan separatists. He further claimed that the U.S. is orchestrating a malicious political operation to encourage small countries to test China.
Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, urged Lithuania to honor its diplomatic commitments with China, stating, "China opposes any form of official exchanges between its diplomatic partners and Taiwan, as well as the establishment of representative offices between them," in relation to Lithuania's establishment of a Taiwanese representative office.
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