LAST UPDATE: 13:26
Taiwan’s transport ministry announced that at around noon today (local time), flights gradually resumed through its airspace as most warnings about Chinese military exercises near the island were “no longer in effect”.
The ministry said in a statement, however, that Taiwan would continue to direct aircraft and ships away from the areas of Chinese military exercises off its east coast until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow (local time).
Chinese and Taiwanese warships were playing “cat and mouse” today, hours before the scheduled end of a four-day Chinese military training exercise held in response to the visit of the speaker of the US House of Representatives to Taiwan.
Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit to the island angered China, which responded by test-firing ballistic missiles over the capital Taipei for the first time and cutting communication channels with the US.
Warships from China and Taiwan were sailing in close proximity to each other in the Taiwan Strait, with some Chinese vessels violating the median line that separates mainland China from the island, a person with knowledge of the matter said. As Chinese forces “pressured” the line, as they did on Saturday, the Taiwanese side remained close by to watch and, where possible, prevent the Chinese from crossing the median line.
“Both sides are showing restraint,” the person said, likening the ships’ maneuvers to a game of “cat and mouse.”
The Chinese drills, centered on six locations around the island, began on Thursday and are scheduled to last until noon today (local time). The Chinese military announced yesterday that it is conducting joint sea and air exercises north, southwest and east of Taiwan. The US called the military high schools an escalation.
“These activities represent a significant escalation in China’s efforts to change the status quo. They are provocative, irresponsible and raise the risk of error,” a White House spokesman said. “They also go against our long-term goal of safeguarding peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which the world expects,” the spokesman said.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said today it had dispatched aircraft and ships to respond “appropriately” to Chinese high schools around the island.
Chinese warships, aircraft and drones continued military drills this morning, with simulated attacks on Taiwan and Taiwanese warships, the island’s defense ministry said in a statement.
Taiwan PM: Beijing ‘arrogantly’ used military moves to disrupt peace
Taiwan’s Prime Minister Su Cheng-chang said today that China has “arrogantly” used military moves to disrupt regional peace and stability, referring to China’s military high schools around the island.
Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Suh also urged Beijing not to make a show of military might and condemned “foreign enemies” who he said are trying to demoralize Taiwanese through cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns.
Source: Capital
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