Beijing ‘takes aim at Taipei’ with ‘last-minute’ live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait
A military insider says the exercise, which includes China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier, was timed to coincide with a visit to Africa by Taiwan’s leader
Beijing’s first live-fire exercise in the Taiwan Strait in three years, which is expected to include the first drill appearance in the area by aircraft carrier the Liaoning, appears to be a last-minute countermove to Washington’s attempt to play the Taiwan card, according to analysts.
The surprise one-day exercise, which is scheduled for Wednesday, coincides with a visit to Africa by Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who will head to Swaziland on Tuesday for a four-day trip.
When asked about the exercise on Friday, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office underscored the mainland’s commitment to “defeat any forms of ‘Taiwan independence’ schemes and defend the country’s sovereignty and integrity”.
Beijing announced the drill on Thursday, just hours after Chinese President Xi Jinping boarded the Liaoning to inspect the biggest naval parade ever staged by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.
Then, on Friday, Tsai visited a Taiwanese naval base in Yilan county, her first official inspection of the island’s warships since assuming office in May 2016.
Boarding a Kidd-class destroyer, Tsai said she was confident about the Taiwanese military’s combat readiness and ability to respond rapidly to challenges from Beijing, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.