Taiwan detected 11 Chinese warships and 70 aircraft around the island on Sunday, the Defense Ministry said, as China simulated “total encirclement” drills for the second day on Sunday. An armada similar to that of the day before. The ministry said it was responding to the Chinese drills “in a calm and collected manner”, adding that the warplanes, detected until 4 p.m. local time, were fighter jets and bombers.
For its part, China simulated this Sunday targeted bombings against Taiwan in this exercise, presented as a “serious warning” after the meeting between the Taiwanese president and a senior American official. The Chinese military simulated “precision strikes” against “key targets on the island of Taiwan and surrounding waters”, involving dozens of aircraft and ground troops, according to state television. Destroyers, fast missile launchers, fighter planes, tankers and jammers are mobilized for the Chinese maneuvers.
Called “Joint Sword”, the operation was denounced by Taiwan and the United States called on Beijing to “restraint”, ensuring that it kept its channels of communication with China “open”. The Chinese maneuvers were launched after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met Wednesday in California with Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy. They aim to measure China’s ability to “take control of the sea, airspace and information (…) in order to create deterrence and total encirclement” of Taiwan, state television said on Saturday. Chinese.