China began its military exercises around Taiwan on Thursday, announced Chinese public television CCTV, the largest maneuvers ever organized around the island claimed by Beijing.
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“The exercises are starting,” CCTV said in a message posted on the Weibo social network. They come in response to the visit earlier this week by the leader of the American congressmen Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, considered a serious provocation by China.
Taiwan army says ‘preparing for war without seeking war’
Taiwan’s armed forces said on Thursday “preparing for war without seeking war”, as China began the largest military maneuvers in history around the island.
“The Ministry of National Defense stresses that it will adhere to the principle of preparing for war without seeking war,” the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said in a statement.