BEIJING (Dispatches) -The Chinese armed forces have organized military exercises near the island of Taiwan, with these measures taken to “warn the United States,” the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army of China said on Wednesday.
“Recently, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army organized joint combat readiness patrols and military exercises in the sea and air space around the island of Taiwan,” the military said in a statement, adding that this was “a serious warning due to the recent activity between the U.S. and Taiwan,” Sputnik reported.
During U.S. President Joe Biden visit to Japan, he said that Washington is ready to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan in the event of invasion and attempts to change the status quo unilaterally.
China has urged the United States to be careful in what it says and does regarding the Taiwan issue and informed Washington that Beijing will take strong action to protect its sovereignty and security interests, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday commenting on Biden’s remarks.
Earlier in Tuesday, China and Russia have conducted their first military exercise since Moscow launched its military operation in Eastern Ukraine, in the midst of a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden to the region.
The nuclear-capable bombers of China and Russia conducted a joint flight over the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, and the Western Pacific on Tuesday, according to China’s defense ministry.
The ministry said that the patrol is part of the two countries’ “annual military cooperation plan.”
The two countries had previously held such patrols in 2019, 2020, and 2021 but in the latter half of the year.
Russia said the 13-hour flight was carried out “strictly in accordance with the provisions of international law” and was not directed against third countries.
Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, however, condemned the exercise as “provocative” and “unacceptable.”
He said Tokyo conveyed “grave concerns” to both Russia and China through diplomatic channels and scrambled jets, although none of the aircraft entered the country’s airspace.
The exercises were conducted as Japan was hosting the leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) grouping of countries that includes Biden and leaders of Australia, Japan, and India.
The Quad – an informal grouping led by Washington – was formed in part to counter Chinese power in the Indo-Pacific region.
“We believe the fact that this action was taken during the Quad summit makes it more provocative than in the past,” Kishi said.
Separately, South Korea said it also scrambled fighters after at least four Chinese and four Russian warplanes entered its air defense zone on Tuesday.
Citing a senior U.S. official, the New York Times said Washington was also tracking the military drill.
“We believe the fact that this action was taken during the Quad summit makes it more provocative than in the past,” he said.
Another US official said the exercise showed China was continuing military co-operation with Russia in the Indo-Pacific “even as Russia brutalizes Ukraine,” The Financial Times wrote.
“It also shows that Russia will stand with China in the East and South China Seas, not with other Indo-Pacific states,” the official added.
Russia has faced a barrage of sanctions from the US and its Western allies after President Vladimir Putin launched an offensive against Ukraine on February 24.