Taiwan vows to 'defend freedom' amid China's 'punishment' military drills: Here is what is happening now
livemint.comDozens of warplanes, multiple destroyers and frigates" of the PLA were spotted encircling Taiwan and its outlying islands. The drills began Thursday morning."The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Straits, the north, south and east of Taiwan island, as well as areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin," China state media Global Times reported.It also shared a picture showing the locations where the PLA conducted Joint Sword-2024A exercises on Thursday.This is not the first time China has conducted military drills around Taiwan.
The Xi-Jinping-led country has conducted intense military exercises around the island almost daily over the past four years. It last staged large-scale war games near the island in 2023 and 2022.In August 2022, China launched large-scale and unprecedented live-fire military exercises around Taiwan after former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.China's move to launch new military drills signifies its displeasure with Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te.
For the unversed, China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to bring the island under its rule, by force if necessary. Taiwan is currently a self-ruled island.The drills came three days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan's new president and made an inauguration speech that China denounced as a "confession of independence".Lai, dubbed by China as a "dangerous separatist" who would bring "war and decline" to the island, had hailed a "glorious" era for Taiwan's democracy in his inaugural speech.
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