BEIJING: China’s military initiated a live-fire exercise near Taiwan on Tuesday, intensifying pressure on the self-governing island following recent large-scale drills. President Xi Jinping called on troops to prepare for war amid ongoing tensions.
While China’s Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan, it claims the island as part of its territory and has vowed not to relinquish control. This month, China sent planes and warships around Taiwan, framing the actions as a “stern warning” against separatist movements advocating for Taiwan’s independence.
On Monday, the Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) in Pingtan, a Chinese island closest to Taiwan, announced that “gun firing” would occur in a designated area approximately 105 kilometers (66 miles) from Taiwan. The exercise was scheduled to start at 9:00 AM local time (0100 GMT) and last for four hours, covering about 150 square kilometers (60 square miles).
The MSA did not specify which Chinese military force would conduct the live-fire exercise or its intended objectives. In response, Taiwan’s defense ministry stated it was closely monitoring China’s military activities, asserting that the drills could be part of Beijing’s tactics to bolster intimidation in the Taiwan Strait.
