On Tuesday, Taiwan’s defense ministry said that Chinese jets and naval ships remained in Taiwan’s seas after three days of war drills, as President Tsai Ing-wen criticized Beijing for its “irresponsible” behavior.
When Tsai returned to Taipei from a meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles, China resumed the drills on Saturday.
China, which advised the U.S. not to allow Tsai to come or meet McCarthy, has never abandoned force to seize the democratically ruled island. Taiwan vigorously denies China’s accusations.
Taiwan’s defense ministry reported seeing nine Chinese ships and 26 aircraft, including J-16 and Su-30 fighters, conducting combat readiness patrols off the island late Tuesday morning, despite China’s Monday night announcement that the drills were over.
It said Taiwan’s air force, navy, and shore-based missile teams carefully observe and respond.
Taiwan’s leadership has frequently decried the exercises but promised not to escalate or provoke.
Tsai said on her Facebook page soon before midnight on Monday that as president, “I represent my county to the world” and that her travels overseas, especially to the U.S., are expected by Taiwanese people.
“China launched military drills, destabilizing Taiwan and the area. This is irresponsible for a regional power “she remarked.
With dozens of fighter planes and bombers, China practiced precision strikes and blockades of Taiwan.
According to Taiwan’s defense ministry, 91 Chinese military aircraft flew near Taiwan on Monday.
Taiwan’s Central News Agency stated that was a record, but the defense ministry couldn’t confirm it.
On Monday, Chinese aircraft breached the Taiwan Strait’s median line, an unofficial boundary, to its north and center, according to the ministry’s chart.
15 J-15s from China’s Shandong aircraft carrier flew east of Taiwan. Last week, Taiwan tracked the Shandong in the Western Pacific.
On Tuesday, Reuters reporters near Fuzhou observed a warship fire at targets in separate, low-key training. These drills preceded China’s mass drills near Taiwan.
Fuzhou borders Taiwan’s Matsu islands.
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