China starts military drill as US diplomat arrives in Taiwan
- Exercise begins on same day state department official Keith Krach is due to meet Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen
- Chinese defence ministry spokesman says action is in response to ‘current situation’ across the strait
Chinese defence ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said in a press conference on Friday morning that the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command would begin actual combat exercises near the strait “starting today”.
“This is a legitimate and necessary action taken in response to the current situation across the Taiwan Strait and the safeguarding of national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said.
While Ren did not provide details of the drills, Taiwan’s defence ministry said 18 Chinese aircraft were involved, the largest number ever reported by Taipei for such an encounter.
“Sep. 18, two H-6 bombers, eight J-16 fighters, four J-10 fighters and four J-11 fighters crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ,” it said on Twitter, using the short form for air defence identification zone. The island’s air force scrambled fighters and deployed its air defence missile system to monitor the activity, it said.
“Recently, the US and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have stepped up their relationship and frequently caused incidents. No matter whether the aim is to counter China or raise the DPP’s status, it is wishful thinking and is destined to be a dead end,” Ren said.