Taiwan Claims Chinese Ships, Aircraft Spotted Around Island After Beijing Ended War Games

9 Chinese warships and 26 aircraft were detected around island, said Taiwan's Defence Ministry a day after Beijing said that it had ended the war games.

In this picture taken on April 7, 2023, a Chinese helicopter flies over a military base in Pingtan island, in China's southeast Fujian province.

Source : AFP

Taiwan’s Defence Ministry on Tuesday said that it has detected 9 Chinese warships and 26 aircraft around the island, a day after Beijing declared an end to its war games. China "organised military aircraft this morning and crossed the median line from the north, the centre, and the south," said Taiwan’s Defence Ministry, reported news agency AFP. Beijing had launched three days of military exercises around self-ruled Taiwan on Saturday that saw it simulate targeted strikes and practise a blockade of the island.

China’s show of force came as a response to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week. Ahead of the meeting, China had warned of provoking retaliatory measures. 

As per the report, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said it had detected nine Chinese warships and 26 aircraft around the island as of 11:00 am (0300 GMT) on Tuesday.

On Monday, Chinese fighter jets carried out “simulated strikes” near the self-governed island during the exercises, which also included the Shandong aircraft carrier, said the Chinese military while the United States deployed a naval destroyer into Beijing-claimed waters in a show of force.

After two days of exercises that included simulating targeted strikes on Taiwan and encirclement of the island, the Chinese military said the wargames also included "sealing" it off. 

As per the military, one of China's two aircraft carriers also took part in the exercise.

Earlier, China claimed that fighter jets carrying "live ammunition" had launched "simulated strikes" near Taiwan and that its Shandong aircraft carrier was participating in the continuing exercises.

Taiwan’s defence ministry had earlier said it had detected 70 Chinese military aircraft and 11 vessels around Taiwan and its armed forces were monitoring the situation to respond to these activities.

Meanwhile, the United States, which had repeatedly called for China to show restraint, on Monday sent the guided-missile destroyer the USS Milius through contested parts of the South China Sea.