SHANGHAI (Dispatches) -- China’s armed forces carried out another round of exercises near Taiwan last week to improve joint combat operations, the People’s Liberation Army said on Monday, after the Chinese-claimed island reported a spike in activity.
Taiwan has complained for the past two years about frequent Chinese military activity near it, mostly concentrated in the southern and southwestern part of what the island calls its air defense identification zone, or ADIZ.
Taiwan’s air force scrambled planes on Friday after 18 Chinese aircraft entered the zone, and reported further flights on Saturday and Sunday, though with fewer aircraft.
The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement that naval and air force assets carried out drills from Friday to Sunday to the east and southwest of Taiwan to “further test and improve the joint combat capability of multiple services and arms”. It did not elaborate.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said China deployed bombers, fighters and anti-submarine aircraft.
Japan last week reported eight Chinese naval vessels, including an aircraft carrier, passed between islands in Japan’s southern Okinawa chain, to the northeast of Taiwan.
Taiwan also carried out pre-announced missile and other drills off its southern and southeastern coasts last week. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its administration, and the Taiwan Strait remains a potential military flashpoint.
China’s foreign minister said Thursday the United States will “face an unbearable price” over its actions towards Taiwan.
Although most countries have chosen to formally recognize Beijing over Taipei, many have retained strong unofficial links with the latter, which China bristles at.
In an interview with state broadcaster CCTV and official news agency Xinhua, Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned that Washington’s interference could lead to a dangerous situation.
“The U.S. violated the promises made when China and the U.S. established diplomatic relations, condoned and encouraged ‘Taiwan independence’ forces, and tried to distort and hollow out the one-China principle,” Wang Yi said.
“This will not only bring Taiwan into an extremely dangerous situation, but also cause the U.S. to face an unbearable price.”
In a snub to China, the U.S. invited Taiwan to its Democracy Summit earlier this month.
U.S. President Joe Biden last month described Taiwan as “independent” -- but he later clarified his remarks, confirming there was no change in U.S. policy towards Taiwan.