The military channel of China's state television reported that units from the Eastern Theater Command were conducting training to test their capabilities. “air locks and precision strikes”.
The exercises involved “several J-10 fighters” and “many H-6K bombers” that entered “the airspace around the island of Taiwan.” The H-6 long-range aircraft are capable of carrying nuclear weapons and cruise missiles.
Chinese media, citing one of the officers, reported that during the flight “the coast of Taiwan was clearly visible”, but the report did not reveal the exact location of the exercises.
Taiwan's defense ministry condemned the reports, calling them propaganda. The statement said it was an “overt operation against the public, intended to intimidate.” Taipei called on its citizens to unite in defense of democracy.
The Ministry of Defense in Beijing did not comment on Taipei's position.
Beijing considers democratically ruled Taiwan as its territory and does not rule out taking control of the island by force. The government in Taipei categorically opposes this, emphasizing that only the country's citizens can decide about their future.
Taiwan is currently a key US ally in the region. Trump, who began his Asian tour on Sunday, is scheduled to meet Chinese leader Xi on Thursday, October 30, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Community (APEC) summit in South Korea. Leaders are expected to finalize a trade deal between the two largest economies.
According to media reports, one of the Chinese demands that will be discussed during the meeting is to change US policy towards Taiwan's independence. China wants the US to officially oppose this idea, while currently it only “does not support” it. However, the administration in Washington announces that Trump does not intend to introduce such changes.
