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Taiwan accuses China of testing missile during military intimidation exercises

Taiwan accuses China of testing missile during military intimidation exercises

Taiwan accuses China of testing missile during military intimidation exercises

Taiwan accused China of testing two missiles during military exercises held Monday in the waters surrounding the self-governing island.

Taipei, Taiwan – Security officials in Taipei have accused China test firing of two missiles during a series of military intimidation exercises carried out in the waters surrounding the autonomous island.

Taiwan accused China of testing missiles over the weekend.

Taiwan accused China of testing missiles over the weekend. © Collage: AFP/I-Hwa Cheng and AFP/Chinese People’s Liberation Army Information and Communication Center (handout)

They say two missiles were tested by Beijing over the weekend, while its military conducted 13 hours of intimidation exercises around Taiwan on Monday.

China deployed a record number of military aircraft and warships on Monday, effectively encircling the island in a major show of force and intimidation.

This is not the first time Taipei has faced military intimidation from China, with Beijing regularly sending planes and ships into the skies and seas surrounding Taiwan.

Taiwan on alert after "challenging" movement by Chinese aircraft carrier
China
Taiwan on alert after “provocative” gesture by Chinese aircraft carrier

At a press briefing Wednesday, Taiwanese security officials said China had tested two missiles “inward,” demonstrating a “serious” threat.

“Their ability to move from exercises to war has gradually strengthened,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “We continue to believe that war is not imminent and that it is not inevitable.”

China warns against ‘external interference’

Over the weekend, Taiwan was put on alert as a number of Chinese aircraft carriers entered its sovereign waters.

While China has no longer had control over Taiwan since the Communist Party took control in 1949, pushing nationalists to cross the strait. Beijing has, however, repeatedly claimed ownership of the currently autonomous state.

“Let me emphasize that Taiwan is part of China and the Taiwan issue is purely an internal affair of China which does not tolerate any external interference,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao said on Tuesday. Ning.

“To truly maintain cross-Strait peace and stability, we must unequivocally uphold the one-China principle and firmly oppose ‘Taiwan independence’.”

Cover photo: Collage: AFP/I-Hwa Cheng and AFP/Communication and Information Center of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (handout)