BEIJING, China – China announced it will conduct live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, just days after US and Canadian warships passed through the area. The drills, announced by China’s Maritime Safety Administration, will take place near China’s southeastern coast, about 105 kilometers (66 miles) from Taiwan.
China claims Taiwan as its own, even though it has never ruled the island. The Chinese government has said it won’t rule out using force to bring Taiwan under its control.
The live-fire drills will cover a 150 square kilometer area (58 square miles) for four hours, starting at 9:00 a.m. local time. Ships are warned to stay out of the designated zone during the exercise.
These exercises come after a record number of Chinese military aircraft and warships surrounded Taiwan in early October, part of Beijing’s ongoing pressure on Taiwan. The drills are seen as a direct response to what China calls “separatist acts” by forces pushing for Taiwan’s independence. Taiwan responded by boosting its defense forces and putting nearby islands on alert.
This marks the fourth major military exercise by China around Taiwan in just over two years.
