This content was originally published by Radio Free Asia, and it is now licensed for reprint.
China held a live-fire practice on Tuesday around Niushan area, which is located in Taiwan, which Taipei claimed might be a “deterrent result” that Beijing was trying to create.
The Pingtan Maritime Safety Administration of China’s Fujian province issued a navigation warning on Monday for an area along the coast of Niushan island, 80 kilometers ( 50 miles ) south of the Taiwan-controlled Matsu islands and 165 kilometers ( 102 miles ) from Taipei. It stated that vessels would be unable to enter the no-navigation area due to dwell fire.
East of Pingtan state in Fujian province, Niushan Island is known for its iconic tower, which aids ships in crossing the Taiwan Strait.
The drills were reported to be routine but it was not possible to exclude that they were a part of the Chinese government’s plans to “expand the warning effect” in the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s defense uses mutual intelligence, security and surveillance systems to closely monitor and analyze Foreign activities and intentions, the department said, vowing to “respond properly”.
It is unusual for China to do live-fire exercises , so near to Taiwan’s main isle. It follows the Joint Sword-2024B defense drills around Taiwan on Oct. 14.
Taiwan’s defence ministry also revealed that China planned to launch a ship rocket on Wednesday from Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the direction of the West Pacific and that the jet was scheduled to pass through the region’s air defense identification area, or ADIZ.
An ADIZ is a cushion zone between a nation’s regional airport and global aircraft, and it is frequently carefully monitored for regional security purposes.
Taiwan Strait transport
Taiwan is regarded as a Chinese state by China, which asserts that it has sovereignty over both the area and the waters surrounding it.
A new travel through the Taiwan Strait by American and Canadian warships angered the Chinese government, which the Foreign military described as a “provocative proceed.”
The U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet said its Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins and the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver conducted a “routine Taiwan Strait transport” on Oct. 20 “through waters where high-seas freedom of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law.”
The travel “demonstrated the United States and Canada’s commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all countries as a principle,” it said, adding that” the global society’s maritime rights and freedoms in the Taiwan Strait should not be limited.”
The Chinese military ‘s , Eastern Theater Command , denounced the travel, saying it “disturbed the position and undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”.
The order organized naval and air causes to monitor and control the U.S. and Canadian naval vessels throughout their transport, according to the statement.
A Chinese ship and Australian and New Zealand ships patrolled the Taiwan Strait before the U.S. Canada transport, and a European ship passed through the Taiwan Strait for the first time in 22 times in mid-September.
The political allies have made clear statements in their activities to support the right to freedom of navigation and accept China’s absurd attempt to treat the Taiwan Strait as its inland sea, according to Lee Wen-Chung, chief executive officer at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, which is affiliated with the Taiwan government.