Taipei: China sends 20 aircraft, 14 battleships around Taiwan
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On the third day of the exercises, the Chinese deployed scores of aircraft and battleships, particularly after Pelosi's visit.
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Chinese exercises in the Taiwan Strait. (AA)
The Chinese military deployed 20 aircraft and 14 naval vessels around Taiwan on Saturday, marking the third day of Beijing's military drills in the Taiwan Strait, as revealed by the Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense.
"20 PLA aircraft (SU-30*10, J-16*4, J-11*4, Y-8 ASW, and Y-20 Aerial Refueling) and 14 vessels conducted an air-sea operation on the surrounding area of R.O.C on August 6, 2022," the ministry tweeted.
The ministry also revealed that it has sent over military patrol to keep track of the situation, and has also deployed anti-aircraft and missile defense systems.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei this week triggered a series of Chinese large-scale military drills east of the Taiwan Strait.
Pelosi's visit, stubbornly nonchalant of Beijing's warnings, marks the day the highest-ranking US official to come to Taiwan in 14 years.
The drills are expected to go on until 12 local time on Sunday.
Chinese military ignores US attempts to establish contacts over Taiwan
The US military command has tried to make several contacts with Chinese counterparts amid the rising tensions around Taiwan, but all efforts were eventually futile, according to media sources.
According to the Politico news outlet, July 7 was the last time there was any contact between the US and Chinese military.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the US told Sputnik, on Friday, that Chinese Ambassador Qin Gang has met with members of the White House National Security Council and vehemently refuted claims that Beijing is inflaming tensions.
The spokesperson further underscored that China's response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan was "necessary and legitimate" in order to deter separatist forces.
Qin Gang also held the US fully responsible for the increased US-China tensions according to Sputnik.
China announced Friday it will be ending cooperation with the United States on important issues such as climate change, anti-drug efforts, and military talks, as Sino-US relations deteriorate after Washington stubbornly made its way to Taiwan, breaching Chinese sovereignty.
