Chinese and Taiwanese printed flags can be seen in this illustration taken on April 28, 2022. REUTERS / Dado Ruvic / Illustration
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BEIJING, June 1 (Reuters) – The Chinese military said on Wednesday it had conducted a combat “readiness patrol” in the seas and airspace around Taiwan in recent days, saying it was necessary in response to a “collusion” between Washington. and Taipei.
China, which claims that democratically governed Taiwan is its own territory, has stepped up its military maneuvers around the island over the past two years as it tries to pressure Taipei to accept its claim to sovereignty.
China is particularly unhappy with US support for Taiwan.
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US President Joe Biden angered China last week, apparently signaling a change in US policy of “strategic ambiguity” towards Taiwan, saying the United States would intervene militarily if China attacked the island. US officials said there was no change in policy.
In a statement, the command of the Eastern Theater of the People’s Liberation Army said that the combat “patrol of readiness” has taken place around Taiwan in recent days and is “necessary action against the Taiwanese conspiracy between the United States.”
“Recently, the United States has often taken steps on the issue of Taiwan, saying one thing and doing another, pushing for support for Taiwan’s independence forces, which will put Taiwan in a dangerous situation,” the command added.
Taiwan is part of China, and Chinese troops continue to step up military preparations and preparations to “thwart” foreign intervention and the actions of those who support Taiwan’s independence, the statement said.
Although the statement did not specify an exact date for the exercise, Taiwan on Monday announced the largest Chinese air force invasion in January in China’s air defense zone. The island’s defense ministry said Taiwanese fighter jets had boarded to warn 30 planes. Read more
Taiwan has repeatedly complained about similar missions in its air defense identification area or ADIZ.
No shots were fired and Chinese planes did not fly into Taiwan’s airspace, but in its ADIZ, a wider area of Taiwan, it monitors and patrols, which acts to give it more time to respond to any threats.
Taiwan says only its people have the right to decide the future of the island, rejecting China’s claims to sovereignty.
The Taiwanese government says that as long as it wants peace, it will defend itself if necessary.
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Report by Ryan Wu; Additional reports from Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Edited by Tom Hogg and Lincoln Fest.
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