China to ban ships north of Taiwan on Sunday
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Beijing announces that ships will be banned from sailing in a region north of Taiwan due to the possibility of "falling wreckage."
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A Navy Force helicopter under the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) takes part in military exercises in the waters around Taiwan, at an undisclosed location August 8, 2022. (Reuters)
According to a provincial marine official, China would prohibit ships from sailing in a region north of Taiwan on Sunday due to "possible falling rocket wreckage."
The region roughly 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Taipei will be closed from 9 a.m. (0100 GMT) until 3 p.m. (0700 GMT), according to the marine safety agency of China's eastern Fujian province, with ships "forbidden to enter."
Last week, China launched its 3-day Operation "United Sharp Sword" where Chinese jets and warships reportedly simulated strikes on Taiwan on the second day of the military drills.
The operation was launched following a meeting between Taiwan's President Tsai Ing Wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on April 5.
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.”
The water shutdown comes after Taiwan's transport ministry announced on Wednesday that China wanted to establish a no-fly zone north of the island due to "space activities."
The limits will be in effect on Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 9:57 a.m. (0130 to 0157 GMT), according to the ministry, which added that Beijing had originally planned a three-day closure.
Beijing's foreign ministry declined to disclose whether a no-fly zone will be enforced at a normal news briefing on Thursday.
