China simulates strikes on Taiwan as part of Operation Sharp Sword
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The People's Liberation Army simulates strikes on key targets in Taiwan as part of the three-day Operation Sharp Sword that comes in response to the recent US-Taiwan meeting.
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Chinese J-11 fighter jet flies in close proximity to US RC-135 aircraft over the South China Sea according to the US military, in a still image taken from a video recorded on 21 December 2022. US Indo-Pacific Command/Handout via (Reuters)
As part of China’s 3-day Operation "United Sharp Sword", Chinese jets and warships simulated strikes on Taiwan on the second day of the military drills.
The operation was launched in response to Taiwan's Tsai Ing Wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on April 5.
Taiwanese authorities condemned the military exercises and the US said it is “monitoring Beijing’s actions closely.”
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will rehearse the encirclement of the island and will run its drills until Monday, the Eastern Theater's Command said.
China sent planes, ships, and personnel into “the maritime areas and air space of the Taiwan strait, off the northern and southern coasts of the island, and to the island’s east.”
The simulation is aimed at training on targeting key targets on the island in precision strikes, as explained in a report by China's CCTV broadcaster.
The report added that the air force deployed dozens of aircraft that will fly into target airspace and ground forces that will carry out drills for multi-target precision strikes.
Taiwanese air defense detected 71 Chinese jets and 90 vessels active around the Taiwan Strait yesterday.
Chinese Foreign Minister Mao Ning said earlier that the expansion of US-Taiwan relations is “a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués.” The Minister added, "It seriously infringes upon China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and sends an egregiously wrong signal to the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it."
Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou said on Friday after his visit to China that the island will have to choose between "peace and war.”
He also condemned the current administration which continues “to lead Taiwan to danger,” highlighting that a “common political basis” between China and Taiwan will prove to be beneficial to the Taiwanese people.
