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China military drill ‘a warning’ to Taiwan in wake of Biden defence pledge
- PLA holds joint combat-readiness exercise near island to deter collusion with the United States
- Beijing say there would be heavy consequences for supporting Taiwanese independence
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Just two days after US President Joe Biden said Washington was committed to Taiwan’s defence, the Chinese military has announced that it conducted a drill near the island, sending a warning against “collusion” with the United States.
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Shi Yi, from the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command, said on Wednesday that the joint naval and air combat-readiness exercise by the People’s Liberation Army was a “solemn warning against recent collusion between the United States and Taiwan”.
“It is hypocritical and futile for the United States to say one thing and do another on the Taiwan issue,” Shi said.
Without giving details of the drill, he said troops from the theatre command were capable of thwarting external interference and attempts to advance independence for the island.
The Chinese foreign ministry also accused the US of harming relations with China, saying there would be heavy consequences for supporting Taiwanese independence.
03:09
US President Joe Biden says US military will defend Taiwan if attacked
US President Joe Biden says US military will defend Taiwan if attacked
It follows suggestions from Biden on Monday that the US would defend Taiwan militarily if it was under attack by mainland China.
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