On Friday, William Lai, the Vice President of Taiwan returned from a visit to the United States, a visit Beijing has criticized and which has carried cautions from Taiwanese officials it could provoke more Chinese military exercises near the self-ruled island.
After returning to Taiwan, Lai said, Taiwan’s strength is become stronger, because of everyone’s contribution, and it showed the global community that Taiwan is a strength for good.
With calling Lai a troublemaker, Beijing claims Taipei as its territory and has condemned the transit stops in Washington.
With using Lai’s US stopover as an excuse, China may carry out military drills near Taiwan this week, to threaten voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election, a Taiwanese official said.
While Taiwan has not yet reported any military movement near the island.
11 Russian and Chinese naval ships, including destroyers, had crossed waters between the southern Japanese islands of Okinawa and Miyako, the Japanese government reported on Thursday.
The islands lie directly to Taiwan and Okinawa is home to a major military base of the US.