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| China's Massive Military Exercise Around Taiwan Ends |
Beijing - China has announced an unprecedented end to military exercises around Taiwan. The military exercise was launched after the controversial visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei.
Quoted from the Global Times, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said it had successfully completed various missions during a recent exercise around the island of Taiwan and effectively tested the combat capacity of joint operations of the forces.
Eastern Theater Command spokesman Colonel Shi Yi said China said it would continue military training and preparations, and organize patrols in the Taiwan Strait to firmly defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The announcement came shortly after Beijing released the White Paper refusing to rule out the use of force in its bid to unite Taiwan with the mainland, noting, however, that it would fight for peaceful unification.
“We will work with the greatest sincerity and put forth our best efforts to achieve peaceful reunification. But we will not abandon the use of force, and we have the option to take all necessary measures," the document reads as quoted by Russia Today, Thursday (11/8/2022).
Beijing noted that this possibility was necessary to prevent external interference and separatist activities and accused anti-China forces in the US of deliberately increasing tensions between China and Taiwan.
Last week, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a controversial visit to the self-governing island despite protests from the Chinese government. In response, Beijing launched unprecedented military drills and live-fire drills in six maritime areas around Taiwan.
The maneuvers included simulated island "blockades", as well as amphibious strikes and ground target strikes, according to China's Ministry of Defense.
China regards Taiwan as an inalienable part of its territory and views visits such as Pelosi's as an attack on its sovereignty and a violation of the 'One China' principle, which most countries refrain from diplomatic recognition of Taiwan.