China says it has conducted ‘ready patrols’ around Taiwan

This chart taken on April 28, 2022 shows Chinese and Taiwanese printed flags. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic / Illustration

BEIJING, June 1 (Reuters) – The Chinese military on Wednesday said it was conducting a “ready patrol” in recent seas and airspace around Taiwan in response to a “joint venture” between Washington and Taipei. .

China, which democratically claims Taiwan as its home territory, has been stepping up military maneuvers around the island for the past two years.

China is dissatisfied with US support for Taiwan.

US President Joe Biden last week angered China by appearing to show a change in US policy of “strategic ambiguity” on Taiwan. U.S. officials said there was no change in policy.

In a statement, the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command said there had been a “ready patrol” of war around Taiwan in recent days and “necessary action against the US-Taiwan alliance.”

“Recently, the United States has made frequent moves on the Taiwan issue, saying one thing and doing another.

It said Taiwan was part of China and that Chinese troops were continuing to strengthen military training and preparations to “prevent” the interference of outside forces and the actions of Taiwan independence supporters.

Although it did not report an exact date for when the exercise took place, Taiwan on Monday reported the largest intrusion into its air defense zone by the Chinese air force since January. The island’s Ministry of Defense says Taiwanese militants have been alerted to 30 planes. read more

Taiwan has repeatedly complained about such actions in its air defense identification zone or ADIZ.

Chinese aircraft do not fly and Chinese aircraft do not fly over Taiwan’s airspace, but in its ADIZ, Taiwan gives more time to respond to any threat during Taiwan’s surveillance and patrols.

Taiwan denies China’s sovereignty claims and says its people have the sole right to determine the island’s future.

While the Taiwanese government wants peace, it says it will defend itself if necessary.

Report by Ryan Woo; Additional Report by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Tom Hawke and Lincoln Feast.

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