China continued military drills around Taiwan for a second day on Sunday, as the US said it was keeping an eye on events.
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Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported air force sorties and said it was monitoring the movement of China’s missile forces.
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"Regarding the movements of the Chinese communists' Rocket Force, the nation's military also has a close grasp through the joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance system, and air defense forces remain on high alert," the ministry said.
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The operation is known as "Joint Sword" and will run until Monday, the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command said.
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A report from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said, "the task force will simultaneously organize patrols and advances around Taiwan island, shaping an all-round encirclement and deterrence posture."
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China launched large-scale military exercises around the island on Saturday, after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen returned from an official visit to the United States despite Beijing’s warning against it.
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She met the speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy.
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Tsai denounced the drills and pledged to work with "the US and other like-minded countries" in the face of "continued authoritarian expansionism".
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A US State Department spokesperson said Washington had "consistently urged restraint and no change to the status quo", but noted it had ample resources to fulfil its security commitments in Asia.
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The activities on Saturday had wrapped up by sunset, a source told Reuters agency. However, Taipei said the activities had resumed on Sunday, as fighter aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
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Last August, after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei, China had conducted drills and fired missiles into the water close to Taiwan.
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Washington does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but has a commitment to help the island protect itself. It remains a volatile issue between China and the US.
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For the past three years, China has been flying regular missions around Taiwan, though not in its territorial air space or over the island itself.
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Taiwan's defence ministry said early on Sunday that in the previous 24 hours it had spotted 71 Chinese air force aircraft and nine navy vessels around Taiwan.
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Exercises on Monday are expected to include live-fire drills off the rocky coast of China's Fujian province, about 80 km (50 miles) south of Taiwan's Matsu Islands and 186 km (115 miles) from Taipei.
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"These operations serve as a stern warning against the collusion between separatist forces seeking 'Taiwan independence' and external forces and against their provocative activities," said Shi Yin, a PLA spokesman.
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Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council released footage late on Saturday showing one of its ships shadowing a Chinese warship.
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"You are seriously harming regional peace, stability and security. Please immediately turn around and leave. If you continue to proceed we will take expulsion measures," a Coast Guard officer says by radio to the Chinese ship.
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