Taiwan distributes forces, accusing China of provoking a “high degree of danger” with military exercises near his coast

Tapej “Taiwan sent forces on Wednesday in response to ChinaThe drumming of “live fire” from a self -righteous island, Taipei’s Ministry of Defense said, condemning the exercises as dangerous. China arranged 32 aircraft nearby Taiwan As part of a joint combat exercise with Chinese warships and announced “Exercises of Living Fire” in an area of ​​about 40 nautical miles from a democratically managed island, the statement states.

The Taiwanese army reacted by sending sea, air and land forces to “monitor, warn and respond appropriately,” the statement said.

The Chinese National Liberation Army “sharply violated the international norms by the unilateral appointment of a drilling zone 40 Nm along the coast of Kaohsiung and Pingtung, claiming that they carry out live fire exercises without a prior warning,” the Ministry said. “This move not only caused a high degree of danger for the safety of international flights and vessels at sea, but also a sharp provocation of regional security and stability.”

Taiwan has navy and air bases in Kaohsiung and Pingtung.

China has increased the arrangement of fighter jets and warships around Taiwan in recent years to press its own A request for sovereignty over the islandwhich Taipei rejects. Beijing was also assertive in Views of military force Around other islands in the region over which territorial claims compete with other nations, including the Philippines and Vietnam.

The Taiwan Ministry of Defense announced that the Chinese move was “completely contrary to its repeated claims about the” peaceful coexistence of “principles” and vowed to “continue our efforts in accumulation and willingness.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry refused to comment on Taiwan, saying that the Chinese army set up a drilling zone for “cracking training”.

“This is not a question about external affairs,” spokesman Lin Jian told reporters.

The Chinese Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to the AFP comment on the comment.

The Taiwanese Defense Ministry said Chinese actions in the region included drills of living fires outside Australia And Vietnam, “Prove that China is the only and greatest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwanese strait and the Indo-Pacific region.” Last week, the Australian government complained that China warned about potential naval exercises “living fire” in international waters near the eastern coast of the country, with a few previous announcements, forcing disorder of some commercial flights.

Beijing described Maneure near Australia as training exercises, which he said were “safe, standard and professional” and in accordance with international law without commenting on whether a vibrant ammunition had been used.

Exercises on Wednesday come the day after Taiwan seized a cargo ship seized by the Chinese cable suspected of interrupting the cable for the submarine serving the Taiwanese group of Penghu Island. In Taiwan, there is increasing concern about the safety of his cables after suspected that a chinese -owned cargo ship reduced one northeast from the island this year.

The Chinese Communist Party never ruled the Democratic Taiwan, but Beijing had threatened to use force bring the island under its control.

Taiwan fears that China could end her communication relationships as part of an attempt to take him an island or block him.

Taiwan, China and now “strategic ambiguity”

Taiwan is also a potential flash for the war between China and the United States, which is the most important susceptible and the largest weapon supplier on the island.

While the United States is legally obliged to provide the Taiwan weapon, Washington has long maintained the policy of “strategic ambiguity” about whether it will arrange military assets to defend the island from the Chinese attack.

Despite strong double -sided support at the Taiwan US Congress, there are fears that President Trump may not be considered as an island worth a dam if China attacked.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-Te has already vowed to increase investments in the United States to reduce trade imbalance-Mr. Trump openly criticized and spent more on the army of the island, while his government also considers increasing the import of natural gas in the US.

Since Mr. Trump assumed his duty in January, his administration did not indicate that there had been no clear change in Taiwan’s attitude, but China accused the US last week of “seriously withdrawing” in her position and sending the wrong message “separatist forces” after the US Government A leaf of facts has been modified To remove the phrase, “we do not support the independence of Taiwan.”

Beijing Lai President welcomes as a “separatist” And he organized several circles of major military exercises since he came to power last May.

The dispute between Beijing and Taipee dates from the Civil War between the Communist Fighters of Mao Zedong and the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-Shek, who fled to Taiwan after their defeat in 1949.