The Chinese People's Liberation Army has simulated several precision strikes against "key targets on the island of Taiwan and surrounding sea areas." This was reported by the state broadcaster CCTV on Sunday. The precision strikes are part of the military exercises that began on Saturday and are scheduled to continue until Monday.
Special attention will be paid to the missile units of the Chinese People's Army, which are responsible for the land-based missile systems, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said. It reiterated that its own armed forces would respond appropriately to the Chinese military maneuver and would neither escalate conflicts nor cause disputes.
Taiwan's Ministry of Defense had already registered 58 fighter jets and nine ships of the Chinese military by Sunday afternoon. Of these, 31 aircraft entered Taiwan's southwestern air defense zone ("Air Defense Identification Zone"). It is a buffer zone between the island state and the People's Republic of China.
A spokesman for the US State Department had previously said in view of the maneuvers that Washington was watching China's actions closely. "We have always called for restraint and not to change the status quo," he added. The channels of communication with Beijing remained open. At the same time, the ministry spokesman stressed that the United States "has sufficient resources and capabilities in the region to ensure peace and stability and fulfill our national security obligations."
The United States has supported Taiwan for decades in building its defense capabilities, but does not explicitly commit to providing military assistance to the island in the event of an attack. With other countries in the region, including Japan, the United States has concluded a defense pact.
China's army described the three-day military exercise near Taiwan as a "warning" to "separatist forces." According to Chinese state media, the encirclement of Taiwan is also to be practiced. Taipei condemned the maneuver and accused Beijing of endangering regional security.
On Wednesday, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen met with the Chairman of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, for talks during a transit stay in the United States.
The communist leadership in Beijing regards the democratically governed island of Taiwan as part of the People's Republic and threatens conquest. A visit by McCarthy's predecessor Nancy Pelosi in August to Taiwan had led to a serious crisis.