China has started announced military maneuvers near Taiwan, according to Chinese state television. “The exercises are starting,” CCTV broadcaster said on the online network Weibo on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Taiwanese military said it used flares to chase two unidentified Chinese planes over the Kinmen Islands. It must have been a drone.
The two flying objects entered Taiwan’s airspace around 9 p.m. Wednesday and then around 10 p.m., Major General Chang Zone-sung of the defense command in charge said on Thursday. “We immediately lit flares to warn them and scare them away. Then they returned. They entered our security zone, so we expelled them.” He assumes that the drones were used to gather information about Taiwan’s security measures. Politically part of Taiwan, the heavily fortified Kinmen Islands are located just off the southeast coast of China, near the city of Xiamen.
Escalation after Pelosi trip
China responds Tuesday and Wednesday to a visit by US leader Nancy Pelosi with maneuvers in the waters around Taiwan. The Speaker of the US House of Representatives was the highest-ranking US representative to visit the island in 25 years. The government in Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of Chinese territory, reacted angrily to the visit and announced massive military maneuvers. Trade with the island is now partially restricted.
Taiwan now wants a visit from German parliamentarians
Following Pelosi’s visit, the Taiwanese government is now encouraging parliamentary representatives from other countries to make high-level visits. For example, Taiwan’s representative in Germany, Jhy-Wey Shieh, suggested that a delegation from the Bundestag travel to his country. “The inhibitions to travel to Taiwan must disappear,” he told Tagesspiegel (Thursday).
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
