BEIJING (Reuters) â China described its military exercises near Taiwan as âcombat drillsâ on Tuesday, hours before the arrival of senior former U.S. officials in Taipei on a trip to signal President Joe Bidenâs commitment to Taiwan and its democracy.
Taiwan has complained over the proximity of repeated Chinese military activity, including fighter jets and bombers entering its air defense zone and a Chinese aircraft carrier exercising off the island, claimed by Beijing.
Twenty-five Chinese air force aircraft including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers entered Taiwanâs air defense identification zone on Monday, the largest reported incursion by Taipei to date.
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Chinese forces are conducting military drills as a message to a delegation of prominent Americans visiting Taiwan at the behest of President Joe Biden.
“The signal given by the military drills is that we are determined to stop Taiwan independence, and stop Taiwan from working with the U.S.,” China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang said Tuesday. “We are doing it with action.”
A group of former U.S. government officials arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday, led by former Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, a longtime ally of Biden. Chinese Communist Party officials, who claim sovereignty over Taiwan, sortied 25 warplanes into Taiwan’s air defense zone Monday followed by the launch of a six-day live-fire war-game in the South China Sea, near an island claimed by Taiwan.
Amendment to fight propaganda advised
By Chen Yu-fu
and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writer
National security officials have suggested an amendment to the Anti-infiltration Act (反滲透法) that would make it illegal to share foreign political propaganda or misinformation under the instruction or assistance of a foreign power, a source said on Tuesday.
The amendment would be a small, but necessary step toward combating Chinese infiltration, which has been identified in politics, industry and the media in Taiwan, the source said, adding that this has been done through the spread of misinformation aimed at increasing Chinese influence in the country.
US should beware the tail wagging the dog on Taiwan: China Daily editorial chinadaily.com.cn - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chinadaily.com.cn Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.