PLA stages fresh drills around Taiwan
The People's Liberation Army said it has organised fresh military drills around Taiwan as Beijing denounced a visit to Taipei by a US congressional delegation. The PLA described the exercises as "combat readiness patrol and combat drills" in the sea and airspace around the island. "This is a solemn deterrent against the US and Taiwan for continuing to play political tricks and undermining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," Shi Yi, spokesman for the PLA's Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement. Shi added the military will resolutely defend national sovereignty. Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said the visit by the US congressional delegation sent the wrong message to Taiwan independence forces, while Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin added that the trip violated the one-China principle as well as the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Beijing earlier carried out military exercises around Taiwan in protest of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei. (Agencies)