China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has launched military exercises off the coast of Fujian Province, just across the strait between the mainland and Taiwan. Live-fire drills were publicly announced amid rising tensions with Washington over the self-governing island’s status.
The drills were scheduled to be held from 8am to 9pm on Saturday near the Pingtan islands off the coast of Fujian, the official Xinhua News Agency cited the PLA as saying. Pingtan maritime officials had issued a warning ordering all ships to steer clear of the area during the exercises.
The announcement offered no details on the weaponry or units that would be tested during the drills. Pingtan is directly between the mainland and Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province and part of China’s sovereign territory.
Chinese officials issued repeated warnings this month that a planned trip by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) to Taiwan would undermine America’s relationship with China and could provoke a military response. Pelosi departed for Asia on Friday, reportedly with plans for visits to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore. A stop in Taiwan was listed on her itinerary as “tentative,” according to NBC News.