CRITICISM “IRRESPONSIBLE”: BEIJING
There has been a chorus of international criticism of China’s drills.
Japan said on Wednesday that China’s military exercises “increase tensions” across the Taiwan Strait, and that it had expressed its “concerns” to Beijing.
Australia’s foreign ministry condemned the “destabilising” drills, saying it had raised concerns with its Beijing counterparts.
The Philippines’ defence department also said it was “deeply concerned” over drills that threatened to “undermine regional peace and stability”.
Beijing said criticism of its exercises was “irresponsible”.
“These countries and institutions are turning a blind eye to the separatist forces in Taiwan attempting to achieve independence through military means,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a news briefing on Wednesday.
“Yet, they are making irresponsible criticisms of China’s necessary and just actions to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, distorting facts and confusing right and wrong, which is utterly hypocritical.”
China said on Tuesday it had deployed destroyers, frigates, fighters and bombers “to conduct drills on subjects of identification and verification, warning and expulsion, simulated strikes, assault on maritime targets, as well as anti-air and anti-submarine operations”.
A statement from its armed forces said the exercises in waters to the north and south of Taiwan “tested capabilities of sea-air coordination and integrated blockade and control”.
The drills were held as US ambassador to China David Perdue met with his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan, which are part of the Quad group that is seen as a counter to Beijing.
“The Quad is a force for good working to maintain a free and open Indopacific,” Perdue said in a post on X on Tuesday, alongside a photo of the four ambassadors in Beijing.
Source: CNA
