Shi Yi, a spokesman for the armed forces, said the drills will test the war strategies and the joint work of the military chiefs of staff to neutralize foreign interference and secessionist desires in Taiwan.

The primary objective, he added, is to practice naval artillery fire and amphibious assaults.

According to Shi, this is the continuation of other live-fire exercises carried out since December 25th in the Taiwan Strait in response to provocations by the United States and the Taipei authorities.

Press reports mentioned that the PLA deployed over fifty planes and four ships in the area in the last few hours. The drills are taking place as a German parliamentary delegation visits Taiwan, despite China’s rejection of any official contact with the island.

Days ago, Beijing condemned and demanded that the United States cancel its announced plan to sell arms to Taipei for 180 million dollars, after stressing that it violates the fundamentals of bilateral ties.

Back in 1971 the international community approved with 170 votes a resolution that recognizes Taiwan as an integral part of China and considers the People’s Republic of China as its only legitimate representative before the United Nations.

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