Beijing [China], December 31: Britain, France, the European Union, and South Korea, as well as some US lawmakers, have reacted to China's large-scale military exercises around Taiwan.
China launched rockets and deployed dozens of fighter jets and warships around Taiwan on December 30, the second day of its "Justice 2025" live-fire military exercise, according to AFP. Taiwanese officials recorded 27 rockets launched by Chinese forces on December 30, AFP reported.
The Chinese military claims it conducted long-range live-fire exercises in the waters north of Taiwan and achieved the desired results. The Eastern Theater Command announced on December 29th that the focus of the exercise was simulating a blockade of the deep-water port of Keelung in northern Taiwan and Kaohsiung (Taiwan's largest port city).
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on December 30 that the exercise was "a punitive response to separatist forces demanding independence for Taiwan and a necessary action to protect national sovereignty," according to AFP.
Furthermore, on December 30, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi declared that Beijing would oppose large-scale US arms sales to Taiwan, warning that any attempts to hinder China's reunification with the island would inevitably fail. Earlier, on December 18, Taiwan's Ministry of Defense announced that the US government was proceeding with an $11.1 billion arms sale to Taiwan, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, a Taiwanese military official stated on December 30 that China had failed to implement a "blockade" of Taiwan during live-fire exercises around the territory, according to AFP.
Many parties have reacted to China's "Justice 2025" military exercises around Taiwan. Among them, the leaders of the House Committee on China on December 30 called China's new exercises around Taiwan "a deliberate escalation," according to Reuters.
A spokesperson for the British Foreign Office issued a statement saying that China's military exercises around Taiwan increase the risk of escalation and reiterated calls for restraint.
Similarly, the French Foreign Ministry announced its concern about China's large-scale military exercises near Taiwan and called for no escalation, according to AFP.
Also on December 30, the European Union stated that China was "threatening international peace and stability" with its live-fire military exercises around Taiwan.
On the same day, South Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman Park Il called for maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait , expressing hope that "cross-strait relations will develop peacefully through dialogue and cooperation."
There is currently no information on Beijing's reaction to the above statements from various parties regarding China's recent military exercises around Taiwan.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
