Chinese forces surround Taiwan for drill

DOZENS of Chinese naval vessels and warplanes rehearsed the encirclement of Taiwan yesterday as Beijing launched military exercises after the island’s president visited the United States.

At least 71 Chinese planes and nine ships crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line yesterday, Taipei’s defence ministry said.

The operation, called “United Sharp Sword”, will run until tomorrow.

Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s president, denounced the drills, pledging to work with “the US and other like-minded countries” against “continued authoritarian expansionism”.

A report from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said: “The task force will simultaneously organise patrols and advances around Taiwan island, shaping an all-round encirclement and deterrence posture.”

The report also detailed the type of weaponry China was putting through its paces, including “long-range rocket artillery, naval destroyers, missile boats, air force fighters, bombers, jammers and refuellers”.

Taiwan’s defence ministry released a video showing soldiers loading anti-aircraft missile launchers, fighter jets taking off, and other military exercises.

The footage included surveillance of China’s Shandong aircraft carrier, which sailed through waters south of Taiwan earlier this week.

The 75-second clip ended with a caption saying: “We seek neither escalation nor conflict, but we remain steadfast, rational, and serious to react and defend our territory and sovereignty.”

The manoeuvres come after a meeting between Ms Tsai and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.

China views democratic, self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to seize it one day. It was using Ms Tsai’s US visit as an “excuse to conduct military exercises, which has seriously undermined peace, stability and security in the region”, the Taiwanese defence ministry said.