China sends warning to Taiwan with naval drills near island

China's navy is holding live-fire military exercises in the Taiwan Strait in a warning to the self-ruled island against seeking formal independence after moves by the U.S. to increase support for Taiwan's government.

Few details about Wednesday's drills have been released by the Chinese government. State broadcaster China Central Television reported Wednesday that the exercises targeted advocates of independence for Taiwan, saying in a headline on its website, "Don't say you haven't been warned!"

The Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to questions. The maritime safety authority in the coastal province of Fujian announced the Taiwan Strait one-day drill last week.

The announcement coincided with President Xi Jinping's attendance at a massive fleet review last Thursday in the South China Sea off the coast of Hainan province.

China Gets Angry At Donald Trump By Flying A Nuclear Bomber Over South China Sea

In a show of strength, China has flown a nuclear-capable bomber beyond its borders in what US officials say is in response to Trump's phone call with the Taiwan president.

The Xian H-6 bomber flew along the disputed 'nine-dash line' around the South China Sea on 8 December. This marks the second time Beijing has flown bombers in the disputed area since Trump was elected president, US officials told Fox News.





According to Military Today, "The H-6K is designed for long-range attacks and stand-off attacks. It is considered as a strategic bomber. It is capable of attacking US carrier battle groups and priority targets in Asia. This aircraft has nuclear strike capability."
 

The president-elect has voiced his criticisms of China on Twitter, including what he has called "a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea."

The Pentagon was alerted to the Chinese long-range nuclear bomber on Friday (9 December). American intelligence satellites have seen China preparing to ship more advanced surface-to-air missiles to the contested islands in the South China Sea.

Trump's call with Taiwan's President Tsai ling-wen broke a protocol dating back many years after American leaders stopped communicating directly with Taiwan presidents in 1979. US officials called to reassure Beijing that the US still adheres to the One China policy, which does not recognise Taiwan as its own sovereign nation.

The Global Times, which has close ties to the Chinese Communist Party said: "We need to get better prepared militarily regarding the Taiwan question to ensure that those who advocate Taiwan's independence will be punished, and take precautions in case of US provocations in the South China Sea."
 


John Pilger in his latest film The Coming War on China, has warned of a major US military build-up over the past few years, including President Obama's 'pivot to Asia', where almost two-thirds of US naval forces would be transferred to Asia and the Pacific by 2020.

The filmmaker interviewed Amitai Etzioni, professor at George Washington University, who said that the US is "preparing for a war with China, a momentous decision that so far has failed to receive a thorough review from elected officials, namely the White House and Congress".