Missiles cross Taiwan in latest drill, Chinese media report
We have a little more detail on the Chinese missiles that reportedly flew over Taiwan during Beijing’s latest military drills on Friday.
Meng Xiangqing, a professor at China’s military-affiliated National Defense University, spoke to state broadcaster CCTV, praising the precision of Beijing’s capabilities.
Our exercises this time included live fire tests and it was the first time they crossed the island of Taiwan.”
He added that they passed through airspace where Patriot missiles, a highly mobile surface-to-air missile system that would be a crucial defense against Chinese warplanes, are densely deployed.
The latest drills also represented the PLA’s closest exercises to the island, its first encirclement and the first time it set up a firing range in eastern Taiwan, Meng said.
China’s official Xinhua news agency reported that the military “flew more than 100 warplanes, including fighters and bombers” during the exercises, as well as “more than 10 destroyers and frigates.”
The Chinese exercises include troops from the navy, air force, rocket force, strategic support force and logistics support force, according to Xinhua.
The Middle Line is an unofficial but largely adhered to border that runs down the middle of the Taiwan Strait, separating Taiwan and China.
Updated at 06.43 BST
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An anonymous source in Taiwan has given Reuters information, which reports that “about 10 Chinese navy ships crossed the median line and remained in the area on Friday morning, and about 20 Chinese military aircraft briefly crossed the median line “.
There has been no official confirmation from Taiwan’s defense ministry about the number of raids yet.
Updated at 08.17 BST
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called for the “immediate cancellation” of China’s military exercises targeting the Taiwan Strait.
Speaking to the media after meeting with US politician Nancy Pelosi in Tokyo, Kishida said she told him that “we have asked for the immediate cancellation of the military exercises”, which he described as a “serious problem that affects our national security and safety.” of our citizens”.
Nancy Pelosi (center left) and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel in Tokyo today. Photo: Shuji Kajiyama/AP
Reuters quotes US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel, who was previously with Pelosi, as saying: “It is clear that the US-Japan alliance will remain strong, shoulder to shoulder, to defend our interests and our values.” .
At a news conference after meeting Kishida, Pelosi told reporters:
We have said from the beginning that our representation here is not about changing the status quo in Taiwan or the region. The Chinese government does not like our friendship with Taiwan to be strong. It is bipartisan in the House and Senate, overwhelmingly supportive of peace and the status quo in Taiwan.
Updated at 07.55 BST
Taiwan’s defense ministry posted on social media to say, “We do not seek any escalation, nor do we antagonize others.”
It confirms it has used warning broadcasts, aircraft, naval ships and land-based missile systems in its response after “several PLA aircraft and ships were spotted engaging in drills around the Taiwan Strait.”
Several PLA aircraft and ships were spotted participating in drills around the Taiwan Strait and have crossed the median line. #ROCArmedForces have used alert broadcasts, aircraft at CAP, naval ship patrols and land-based missile systems in response to this situation. pic.twitter.com/lVpRWCZxhm
— Ministry of National Defense, ROC 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) August 5, 2022
Updated at 07.21 BST
On the Chinese coast opposite Taiwan, tourists gathered on Friday to try to catch a glimpse of any military aircraft headed for the “military exercise” area.
Fighter jets could be heard flying overhead and tourists taking photos chanted, “Let’s take Taiwan back,” looking out over the blue waters of the Taiwan Strait from Pingtan Island, a popular scenic spot.
A tourist holds binoculars in front of the Taiwan Strait at the 68 Nautical Mile Scenic Spot, one of mainland China’s closest points to Taiwan Island. Photo: Aly Song/Reuters A man holds binoculars on Pingtan Island, Fujian Province, China. Photo: Aly Song/Reuters Tourists gathered on Friday to try to catch a glimpse of any military aircraft. Photograph: Ng Han Guan/AP
Taiwan’s president has issued a statement of reassurance, maintaining that the island’s military is “ready to respond when necessary.”
Tsai Ing-wen made the statement on her official Twitter page shortly after 1 p.m.
Our government and military are closely monitoring China’s military exercises and information warfare operations, ready to respond when necessary.
I call on the international community to support democratic Taiwan and stop any escalation of the regional security situation.”
Our government and military are closely monitoring China’s military exercises and information warfare operations, ready to respond when necessary. I call on the international community to support democratic Taiwan and stop any escalation of the regional security situation. pic.twitter.com/uAoDAU2bMV
— Interview with Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) August 5
Updated at 07.15 BST
China has said it summoned European diplomats to the country to protest statements issued by the Group of Seven nations and the European Union criticizing threats from Chinese military exercises around Taiwan.
The foreign ministry said Friday that Vice Minister Deng Li made “solemn representations” about what it called “willful interference in China’s internal affairs.”
Missiles cross Taiwan in latest drill, Chinese media report
We have a little more detail on the Chinese missiles that reportedly flew over Taiwan during Beijing’s latest military drills on Friday.
Meng Xiangqing, a professor at China’s military-affiliated National Defense University, spoke to state broadcaster CCTV, praising the precision of Beijing’s capabilities.
Our exercises this time included live fire tests and it was the first time they crossed the island of Taiwan.”
He added that they passed through airspace where Patriot missiles, a highly mobile surface-to-air missile system that would be a crucial defense against Chinese warplanes, are densely deployed.
The latest drills also represented the PLA’s closest exercises to the island, its first encirclement and the first time it set up a firing range in eastern Taiwan, Meng said.
China’s official Xinhua news agency reported that the military “flew more than 100 warplanes, including fighters and bombers” during the exercises, as well as “more than 10 destroyers and frigates.”
The Chinese exercises include troops from the navy, air force, rocket force, strategic support force and logistics support force, according to Xinhua.
The Middle Line is an unofficial but largely adhered to border that runs down the middle of the Taiwan Strait, separating Taiwan and China.
Updated at 06.43 BST
Taiwan sends planes and ships in response to Chinese military incursions
Taiwan’s defense ministry says its military has sent planes and ships and deployed land-based missile systems to control the situation as China conducts large-scale military exercises in areas surrounding Taiwan.
Several Chinese ships and aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Friday morning, the defense ministry said, describing China’s military activities as “highly provocative”.
Taiwan’s military will prepare for combat but will not call for war, the defense ministry added.
Updated at 06.09 BST
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said China “will not isolate” Taiwan by preventing US officials from traveling there.
Pelosi, who currently leads a congressional delegation to the Indo-Pacific region, with her last stop in Tokyo, said her visit was “not about changing the status quo,” but acknowledged that the China “made their strikes probably using our visit as an excuse.” .
Pelosi said the Chinese have tried to isolate Taiwan, adding that they are “not doing our travel program.”
You can watch the video of his remarks from the US Embassy in Tokyo below.
China does not control US ‘travel program’, says Nancy Pelosi – video
China has summoned Japan’s ambassador to Beijing to make stern representations over its involvement in a Group of Seven (G7) “erroneous” statement on Taiwan, the foreign ministry said on Friday, the agency reported. of Reuters news.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li issued the diplomatic complaint to Japan’s ambassador to China on Thursday, according to the foreign ministry statement.
Earlier, the ministry said it issued a similar complaint to certain European countries and EU envoys to China over the matter.
Shipments to iPhone assembler Pegatron Corp’s factory in China were under scrutiny by Chinese customs officials a day after the company’s top executive met with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taipei, the Nikkei reported on Friday.
Shipments to Pegatron’s Suzhou facility were being reviewed Thursday to see if they violated a rule against cardboard packaging with the words “Taiwan” or “Republic of China,” the report said, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.
Pegatron Vice President Jason Chen and other figures in Taiwan’s chip industry met with Pelosi at a luncheon hosted by President Tsai Ing-Wen on Wednesday. The presidential office later released a photo of the event showing Chen and others, including TSMC founder Morris Chang and chairman Mark Liu.
Several Taiwanese component suppliers also received urgent requests from their customers on Friday morning asking them to ensure shipments meet labeling requirements, Nikkei added.
Chinese authorities reiterated that the boxes, shipping…