Chinese military targets large-scale joint strike drills towards Taiwan

Chinese military targets large-scale joint strike drills towards Taiwan
The Chinese navy has held large-scale joint fight strike drills beginning on Sunday, sending warplanes and navy vessels towards Taiwan, each the Chinese and Taiwanese defence ministries stated.

China introduced the drills round 11pm on Sunday, saying their “primary target was to practice land strikes and sea assaults,” based on a press release from Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command.

The workouts coincided with the go to of a bunch of German lawmakers who landed in Taiwan on Monday morning. Leading the delegation is the Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, who leads the German Parliament’s Defence Committee.
FILE - In this undated file photo released by the Taiwan Ministry of Defense, a Chinese PLA J-16 fighter jet flies in an undisclosed location. The Chinese military held large-scale joint combat strike drills starting Sunday, Jan. 9, 2023, sending war planes and navy vessels toward Taiwan, both the Chinese and Taiwanese defense ministries said. (Taiwan Ministry of Defense via AP, File)
China has been sending PLA J-16 fighter jets and nvay ships in the direction of Taiwan. (AP)

The German lawmakers will meet with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, in addition to Taiwan’s National Security Council head and the Mainland Affairs Council, which handles points associated to China.

China has stepped up its stress on Taiwan’s navy lately by sending warplanes or navy vessels on an almost-daily foundation towards the self-ruled island. China claims sovereignty over the island, which break up from the mainland in 1949 after a civil battle.

Sunday’s workouts have continued into Monday, Taiwan’s defence ministry stated, monitoring Chinese warplanes and navy vessels on its missile programs.

China’s actions “have severely disrupted the peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and surrounding waters,” the ministry stated.

Over the course of 24 hours between 6am Sunday to 6am Monday morning, China’s People’s Liberation Army flew 57 warplanes and 4 ships towards Taiwan, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence stated in a press release Monday morning.

Residents wearing face masks wait to cross a traffic intersection near a large screen promoting the Chinese People's Liberation Army Airforce, in Beijing, Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. The Chinese military held large-scale joint combat strike drills starting Sunday, sending war planes and navy vessels toward Taiwan, both the Chinese and Taiwanese defense ministries said. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
A big display screen selling the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Airforce hangs over the heads of residets in Beijing, China. (AP)

28 of these planes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary that either side had beforehand stood by.

At the tip of December, China despatched a document 71 planes and 7 ships towards Taiwan, the biggest such scale train in 2022.

Taiwan will maintain its annual two-day navy drills beginning Wednesday. The train forward of Lunar New Year holidays is geared toward showcasing its defence capabilities.