Chinese fighter jets and warships simulated strikes on Taiwan Sunday as they encircled the island during a second straight day of military drills that were launched in response to its president meeting the US House speaker.
The exercises sparked condemnation from Taipei and calls for restraint from Washington, which said it was "monitoring Beijing's actions closely".
The write-up went on to say the air force had deployed dozens of aircraft to "fly into the target airspace", and ground forces had carried out drills for "multi-target precision strikes". The United States has been deliberately ambiguous on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily, although for decades it has sold weapons to Taipei to help ensure its self-defense.Exercises on Monday will include live-fire drills off the rocky coast of China's Fujian province, about 80 kilometers south of Taiwan's Matsu Islands and 186 kilometers from Taipei.
"I think the current exercises serve as a way of putting pressure on Taiwan," the 29-year-old told AFP.Still, the drills were "largely symbolic", he said, adding: "I don't worry that there will be an armed conflict this time around." Taiwan has been on high alert and said its forces "will be well-prepared and maintain solid combat readiness" while making sure not to "escalate conflict".
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