China Conducts Live-Fire Drills in Response to US Congressional Delegation's Visit to Taiwan

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The Chinese military conducted live-fire exercises in response to the visit of a U.S. congressional delegation to Taiwan.

On the 15th, Colonel Sui, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army, stated on the official Chinese messenger WeChat account, "On this day, the Eastern Theater Command organized various military branches to conduct joint combat readiness patrols and live-fire exercises in the sea and airspace surrounding Taiwan Island." He added, "This was aimed at countering the serious threat posed by the political maneuvers of the United States and Taiwan to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait." Colonel Sui further stated, "The theater command units will resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, and the region by employing all necessary measures." However, the scale and specific areas of the exercises conducted that day were not disclosed.

Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan's northern, western, and southwestern Air Defense Identification Zones (ADIZ) seven times from early morning until 10 a.m. In response, the Taiwanese military issued warning broadcasts to counter the Chinese military's incursions.

Five U.S. lawmakers from both parties, including Democratic Senator Ed Markey, visited Taiwan the previous day. They are scheduled to meet with senior Taiwanese officials to discuss security, economic, and trade issues. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan on the 2nd and 3rd of this month, which provoked strong opposition from China.

In response, Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a regular briefing that "(the U.S. lawmakers' visit to Taiwan) violates the One-China principle and the provisions of the three China-U.S. joint communiques," adding, "It infringes upon China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and sends a seriously wrong signal to Taiwan independence and separatist forces."