With its fourth day of military exercises, China maintains its pressure on Taiwan.
In response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-governing island, China claimed Sunday that it has conducted military manoeuvres for a fourth straight day in the air and on the water surrounding Taiwan.
This was done in spite of appeals from other countries to defuse the situation.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) claimed that the exercises were designed to evaluate its long-range land and air attacks. It did not specify if the drills would continue after Sunday.
Taiwan said that it has continued to spot several Chinese planes, ships, and drones operating in the Taiwan Strait, which divides the island from the mainland China, and staging mock attacks on Taiwan and our naval vessels at sea.
In retaliation to the Chinese exercises, the Taiwanese army will conduct live-fire artillery training in southern Pingtung County on Tuesday and Thursday, according to the official Central News Agency of Taiwan.
According to the article, which cited an unnamed source, the drills would involve snipers, combat vehicles, armoured vehicles, as well as assault helicopters.
For the four-day drills, which it announced just after Pelosi's Tuesday and Wednesday visits to Taipei, China established no-go zones all around Taiwan, which incensed Beijing, which considered it as a breach of the one-China policy.
China claims Taiwan and has stated that if necessary, it will use force to take it. After a civil war, the two sides divided, yet Beijing views international dignitaries visiting Taiwan as an acknowledgement of its authority.
The Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan emphasised that its armed forces were monitoring the situation and had sent out planes and ships to take appropriate action.
The international community has been urged by Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen to defend democratic Taiwan and prevent any worsening of the security situation in the area.
Fourth day of military drills as China maintains pressure on Taiwan