The Chinese army has launched large-scale exercises off the coast of Taiwan

On April 1, the People's Liberation Army of China began large-scale military exercises off Taiwan Island, said Shi Yi, an official representative of the Eastern Zone of the PLA Combat Command. During them, Chinese military personnel practice obtaining comprehensive control, blocking key routes and areas, as well as strikes against sea and land targets.

"The exercises of the People's Liberation Army of China around Taiwan are a necessary step to protect sovereignty, these measures by Beijing are directed against separatist forces, not against the inhabitants of the island," said Zhu Fenglian, an official representative of the Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China for Taiwan Affairs.

She also stressed that Beijing would never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China. And the maneuvers are "punishment for the insane provocations of the Lai Qingde administration, which deliberately undermines peace in the Taiwan Strait."

The Taiwanese government has already condemned the exercises, and the presidential office said that China is "widely known to the international community as a troublemaker" and the island's authorities are confident in their abilities and are able to defend themselves. In response, Taiwan sent its warships to the exercise area.

Earlier, on March 22, Taiwan reported the approach of 47 aircraft and seven Chinese ships to the island. It is noted that 41 of the 47 aircraft crossed the median line and entered the northern, southwestern and eastern air defense zones of Taiwan.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

PLA in a different way: what the Chinese army is practicing at exercises off the coast of Taiwan