China’s Armed Forces initiated a series of live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Strait this Thursday, shortly after authorities in the Asian giant called “reckless” the recent speech given by Taiwanese President Lai Ching Te, who affirmed that the island “will not act as a subordinate” of Beijing.
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These drills are scheduled to be carried out until 6:00 PM (local time) this Thursday, before resuming this Friday off the coast of Zhangzhou, in Fujian province, in the east of the country, as reported by the Army.
In this regard, it has confirmed that the affected areas will remain temporarily closed to navigation until the activities conclude, although no further details on the matter have been provided.
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Lai’s comments, along with statements from representatives of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who have said they will never allow a “retreat” towards a “Chinese Taiwan,” have drawn criticism in Beijing.
Relations between Beijing and Taipei were suspended in 1949, after the forces of the Chinese Nationalist Party Kuomintang, led by Chiang Kai Shek, suffered a defeat in the civil war against the Communist Party of China and moved to the island of Taiwan.
