TOKYO: Japan on Wednesday expressed concern about Chinese military exercises around Taiwan in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-governed island.
Hirokazu Matsuno, a top Japanese government spokesman said peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is important not only for the security of Japan but also for the world.
“We hope issues concerning Taiwan will be resolved peacefully through dialogue,” Matsuno said at a press conference as quoted by Kyodo News.
Shortly after Nancy Pelosi landed in Taipei on Tuesday, 21 Chinese military aircraft flew into the southwestern part of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone (ADIZ), as confirmed by Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND).
Taking to Twitter the Defense Ministry said, “21 PLA aircraft (J-11*8, J-16*10, KJ-500 AEW&C, Y-9 EW and Y-8 ELINT) entered Taiwan’s southwest ADIZ on August 2, 2022.”
In response, Taiwan scrambled a combat air patrol, sent radio warnings, and deployed defense missile systems to track the Chinese military planes, the MND said. Pelosi arrived in Taiwan as part of a Congressional delegation’s tour of the Indo-Pacific region. Minutes after her aircraft landed in Taipei, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) announced that it would hold six live-fire military drills in waters around Taiwan, scheduled to take place from Thursday to Sunday.
In response to China’s announcement of the drills, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said that China’s plans to hold six live-fire military drills in waters around Taiwan over the next few days are an attempt to threaten Taiwan’s major ports and metropolitan areas.
Meanwhile, Pelosi on Wednesday morning met with Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-wen and reiterated Washington’s support to the island country and said that the US’ determination to preserve Taiwan’s sovereignty is “iron-clad”. “America has made a bedrock promise to always stand with Taiwan. On this strong foundation, we’ve a thriving partnership grounded in self-government and self-determination focused on mutual security in the region and the world committed to economic prosperity,” Pelosi said.
Earlier in the day, Pelosi visited Taiwan’s parliament and also held a meeting with Tsai Chi-chang, the deputy speaker. During the meeting, she said, “We come in friendship to Taiwan, we come in peace for the region.”
Over the US-Taiwan economic cooperation, Pelosi said that her new US legislation aimed at strengthening the American chip industry in Taiwan which will compete with China. (ANI)
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