Taiwan says China held live-fire drills along southeastern coast

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Tuesday held live-fire drills along its southeastern coast and has designated several maritime and air zones as no-go areas in Taiwan Strait, officials in Taiwan said Tuesday.

The Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) “designated several reserved areas and temporary air restricted areas in the southeastern coastal waters and conducted live-fire exercises,” Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said.

It said the drills are being held off the coast of eastern Zhejiang province, and Fuzhou city of Fujian province.

Meanwhile, Taipei detected at least 20 PLA aircraft around Taiwan, of which 13 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the northern, central and southwestern air defense identification zone (ADIZ).

Taiwanese armed forces “monitored the situation and responded accordingly,” the ministry said.

China regularly flies its military aircraft and sails its naval assets around Taiwan, which it claims as its “breakaway province.”

Latest data suggests Beijing has increased flying its jets into the ADIZ by 300%.

China neither accepts ADIZ nor media line while Taipei has insisted on its independence since 1949.