Chinese and Taiwanese warships moved like “cat and mouse” on the high seas on Sunday, ahead of the scheduled end of unprecedented four-day Chinese military exercises held in reaction to a visit to Taiwan of the president of the Chamber of Deputies of the United States Nancy Pelosi.
the visit of Pelosi last week to the island infuriated the China which considers the island its territory and which has responded by launching ballistic missile tests for the first time on the island’s capital and cutting off dialogue with the United States in some areas.
About 10 Chinese and Taiwanese warships sailed very closely together in the Taiwan Strait, with some Chinese ships crossing the median line, an unofficial area separating the two sides, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
The island’s Defense Ministry said several Chinese military ships, aircraft and drones were simulating attacks on the island and its navy. He said he had sent aircraft and ships to react “properly”.
A commentator on Chinese state television said Sunday that the Chinese military would now hold “regular” exercises on the Taiwan side of the line, saying the “historic task” of China’s reunification “can be accomplished”.
As Chinese forces “pressed” the line, as they did on Saturday, the Taiwan side stayed close to monitor and, where possible, deny the Chinese the ability to cross, said the person with knowledge of the situation who declined to be named.
“Both sides are showing restraint,” the person said, describing the maneuvers as a game of “cat and mouse” on the high seas. “One side tries to cross and the other gets in the way and forces them into a more disadvantaged position and eventually they return to the other side.”
Taiwan said its land-based anti-ship missiles and its Patriot surface-to-air missiles were on standby.
Taiwan said Saturday that its forces had sent jets to alert 20 Chinese aircraft, including 14 that crossed the median line. It also detected 14 Chinese ships carrying out activities around the Taiwan Strait.
The Chinese exercises, centered at six locations around the island, began on Thursday and were scheduled to last until midday on Sunday, the official Xinhua news agency reported last week.
There was no announcement from China on Sunday as to whether the exercises had ended and Taiwan said it was unable to verify that China had halted them as scheduled.
However, Taiwan’s Ministry of Transport was gradually lifting restrictions on flights through its airspace, saying notices for the exercises were no longer in effect.
Source: CNN Brasil
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