China Conducts Live-Fire Military Exercises Near Taiwan

China is conducting live-fire aerial and naval exercises near Taiwan. That’s according to a post by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Weibo on Tuesday. 

Taiwan’s defense ministry says it is watching the exercises closely and is prepared to take action if necessary.

The PLA says that Chinese warships, anti-submarine aircraft and fighters are involved in the joint exercises in the sea and air space south of Taiwan.

The PLA says it organized the drills in response to actions by the United States and Taiwan. It says that Taiwan and the United States have recently been “provocative” and have been giving off “wrong signals that violate Chinese sovereignty”. It says that this has been the cause of instability across the Taiwan Strait. 

The PLA goes on to say the exercises are a response to foreign interference and forces working for Taiwanese independence. It says China needs to strengthen its military readiness to make sure it is able to defeat any movements towards Taiwan independence.