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| Chinese military exercises in the eastern strait of Taiwan |
Beijing - The Chinese military will from now on carry out "regular" drills on the eastern side of the center line of the Taiwan Strait. Chinese state television reported on the decision on Sunday, according to Reuters.
The center line of the Taiwan Strait is an unofficial line of control separating China and Taiwan that is not normally crossed by warships and military aircraft from either side.
The Chinese government launched large-scale military exercises around Taiwan this week in response to a visit by US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island.
China regards the self-governing island as its territory and opposes contact between foreign officials and the Taipei government. Chinese warships and fighter jets continued to train for amphibious strikes and landings off the coast of Taiwan on Saturday.
Chinese state media has repeatedly described the drills as rehearsals for a "reunification operation by force." Meanwhile, Taipei believes that Beijing's maneuvers are tantamount to a blockade of the island. Taiwan's Defense Ministry said its navy was tracking the movements of the Chinese ships.