China BOASTS its military STRENGTH as it threatens World War 3 over Taiwan
CHINA has conducted a number of military drills near Taiwan to intimidate the nation as part of increasing military shows of strength by Beijing in the region, it has been revealed.
China sends warning to Taiwan with live-fire military drills
The drills are thought to have taken place above the Bashi Channel, the stretch of water which separates Taiwan from the neighbouring Philippines.
The move meant Taiwan had to scramble its air force to track the movements of the Chinese military “to ensure defence security” amid fears of conflict between the two nations breaking out.
A number of aircraft - including a Xian H-6K bomber, Sukhoi Su-35 and Shenyang J-11 fighters, the Shaanxi Y-8 transport plane, Kj-2000 early warning aircraft and Tupolev Tu-154 electronic surveillance aircraft - participated in the drills.
In a worrying escalation in the conflict between the two countries, Chinese military expert, Song Zhongping, said the drill proved "China's Su-35 fighter jets are combat-ready.”
He added: “With a stronger command and strike capability, the Su-35's participation provides a stronger deterrence to 'Taiwan independence' forces”.
It is reported bombers and surveillance aircraft flew in opposite directions around Taiwan in order to boast the military capabilities of the Chinese state.
Beijing has defended the drills, arguing they were conducted purely to “defend China's sovereignty and its territorial integrity.”
Taiwan considers itself an independent nation, but China claims Taiwan as its sacred territory or a wayward province and has never ruled out using military force to bring it under control.
China's hostility towards Taiwan has grown since Tsai Ing-wen from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party won a presidential election on the island in 2016.
China fears she wants to push for the island's formal independence.
Tsai says she is committed to peace and maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, but will defend Taiwan's security.
China has ramped up military exercises around Taiwan in the past year, including flying bombers around the island.
The drills conducted on Friday are the latest in a number conducted by Beijing in the region over recent months.
Just weeks ago China’s air force conducted a series of similar tests over the Miyako Strait, a stretch of water between Taiwan and Japan.
At the time Chinese state media said the drills were a direct response to "provocations" by Taiwan leaders in what China fears are moves to push for the self-ruled island's formal independence.
Two Chinese H-6K bombers flew around the island, passing first through the Miyako Strait to Taiwan's northeast and then back to base via the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines.