PLA undertakes major military exercise

The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on Saturday launched combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island, which were scheduled to run through Monday. The patrols and exercises are taking place in the maritime areas and airspace of the Taiwan Straits, off the northern and southern coasts of the island, and to the island's east. (CHINA DAILY)

The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army carried out a number of simulated strikes against key targets on the Taiwan Island and its surrounding waters in exercises over the weekend, the command said.

In addition to the mock joint precision attacks, forces under the command continue to surround the island to maintain "a situation of deterrence and suppression", the command said in a statement on Sunday.

The military operations came after Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen met with United States House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday during her recent provocative "transit" trip.

Tsai visited Central American countries from March 29 to April 7, with so-called "transit" stops in New York and Los Angeles to win political gain as part of schemes seeking "Taiwan independence".

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the command, said on Saturday that the "Joint Sword "exercises would take place from Saturday to Monday in the waters and airspace of the Taiwan Straits and to the north, east and south of the island.

The officer said the operations are a serious warning to the collusion and provocations by "Taiwan independence" separatists and external forces, and a necessary move to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

During exercises on Sunday, destroyers, frigates and anti-ship missile vessels in the Taiwan Straits cooperated with ballistic and cruise missile units deployed along the mainland's coast to track targets on the southwest of the Taiwan Island. Naval vessels also moved into predetermined strike positions after "rapid and stealthy engagement maneuvers", according to the statement.