China conducts fresh military drills around Taiwan

Beijing: Setting its face against the global calls to end its largest-ever exercises over the Taiwan strait, China on Monday morning carried out fresh military drills around the island nation

Live fire drills kicked off on 4 August, a day after a controversial visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The exercises were expected to draw to a close on Sunday, but neither Beijing nor Taipei confirmed their conclusion.

“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army continued to carry out practical joint exercises and training in the sea and airspace around Taiwan island, focusing on organising joint anti-submarine and sea assault operations,” the Chinese military’s eastern command said in a statement.

Beijing has deployed fighter jets, warships and ballistic missiles in what analysts have described as practice for a blockade and ultimate invasion of the self-ruled island – which China claims as its territory.

Taiwan’s transport ministry Sunday said six of the seven “temporary danger zones” China had warned airlines to avoid ceased to be in effect as of noon on Sunday, signalling a partial drawdown of the drills.

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