China announces live-fire drills near Taiwan
ROC Central News Agency
08/23/2023 01:45 PM
Taipei, Aug. 23 (CNA) China's Fujian Maritime Safety Administration on Wednesday issued a no-sail order for an area close to Taiwan proper where live-fire military drills are scheduled to take place Aug. 24-25.
According to the coordinates given by the agency, the drills will be staged in Xinghua Bay, about 160 km away from Taiwan proper, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both days.
The announcement comes as Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) and Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. founder Terry Gou (郭台銘) are in Kinmen County to mark the 65th anniversary of the 823 Artillery Bombardment, a historic battle that saw the Republic of China (Taiwan) fend off People's Liberation Army aggression with the assistance of U.S. military aid.
Hou is the main opposition Kuomintang's (KMT) presidential candidate, while Gou, an independent, has been hinting heavily for months that he may launch his own presidential bid.
China intensified its daily "joint combat readiness patrols" on Aug. 19, one day after Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) candidate in next year's presidential election, returned to the country from a visit to Paraguay, during which he had two stopovers in the U.S.
China flew a total of 45 warplanes around Taiwan that day, including 25 that crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and two that flew into the southwestern part of Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), in addition to deploying nine warships in waters near Taiwan.
The Aug. 19 drills led to Taiwan accusing China of attempting to impact voters' decisions ahead of next year's general elections.
(By Sean Lin)
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