Sylvie Claire / August 4, 2022
Chinese helicopters have been spotted near the Taiwan Strait ahead of military maneuvers. For their part, Taiwan's armed forces said Thursday they were preparing for war without seeking war, just as China began the largest military maneuvers in history around the island. The Ministry of National Defense emphasizes that it will abide by the principle of preparing for war without seeking war, Taiwan's defense ministry said in a statement.
Chinese military helicopters fly over Pingtan Island, one of the closest points on the Chinese mainland to Taiwan, in Fujian province, as the Chinese military kicks off the largest military maneuvers in its history around Taiwan, a heavy-handed response to U.S. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island.
Beijing launched from Thursday noonextensive military maneuvers in six areas around Taiwan, at the level of busy trade routes. The exercises begin and will continue until Sunday noon, said Chinese state television CCTV in a message on social networks. During this period, relevant ships and aircraft should not enter the relevant waters and airspace.
In Pingtan, a Chinese island located near one of the areas where the maneuvers are taking place, military helicopters flew overhead in the direction of the Taiwan Strait, AFP reporters noted. According to the Global Times newspaper, quoting military analysts, the exercises are of an unprecedented scale because missiles will fly over Taiwan for the first time. This is the first time that the Chinese army will launch live ammunition and long-range artillery fire over the Taiwan Strait, said the newspaper, known for its nationalistic tone.