During a second day of military drills, China has conducted simulated precision strikes on key targets in Taiwan and its surrounding waters. Beijing has referred to the drills as a “stern warning” to the self-governing island, in response to Taiwan’s president’s recent visit to the US.

As the Chinese military carried out an encirclement simulation of the island, the US urged China to exercise restraint. On Sunday, Taiwan reported that approximately 70 Chinese aircraft flew around the island, and eleven Chinese ships were spotted, the BBC reported.

On Saturday, Taiwan claimed that 45 warplanes crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, which serves as an unofficial boundary between Taiwanese and Chinese territories, or flew into the southwestern portion of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone.

The operation, dubbed “Joint Sword” by Beijing, will continue until Monday, and Taiwanese officials have expressed anger at the exercise.

On Saturday defence officials in Taipei accused Beijing of using President Tsai’s US visit as an “excuse to conduct military exercises, which has seriously undermined peace, stability and security in the region,” as reported by the BBC.

Written by staff