(Taipei) The Taiwanese army announced that it had deployed fighter planes, ships and anti-missile defense systems for exercises on Thursday, amid Chinese pressure on the island.
Posted at 8:39 p.m.
The maneuvers, which took place early in the morning, were intended to test “the response and engagement procedures of air defense units”, the Taiwan Air Force command said in a statement.
“Different types of aircraft, ships and missile defense systems were deployed between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.,” or from 9 p.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, the statement said, without provide more details.
The last air force exercises took place last June, a month after President Lai Ching-te took office.
China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since 1949, but Beijing claims the island as an integral part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to take control of it.
Taiwan lives under constant threat of Chinese invasion and has increased its military spending in recent years to strengthen its military capabilities.
The island has a defense industry, but relies heavily on arms sales from Washington, its largest supplier of arms and munitions.
China regularly deploys fighter jets and ships around Taiwan, in what Taipei describes as “gray zone” harassment, a hostile tactic, but not open warfare.
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