China’s Defense Ministry said the drills were intended to increase responsiveness to “security threats”.
The Indian Express
Date: May 18, 2016
By: Reuters
China’s Defense Ministry said recent military drills on its southeastern coast were annual
The largest drill was conducted in recent days by a regiment under the PLA’s 31st Group Army, which is based in coastal Fujian province, across the strait from Taiwan. (Source: Agencies)
exercises, after Chinese media had suggested they could have been timed ahead of Taiwan’s inauguration of a new president from a pro-independence party.
China and self-ruled Taiwan underwent a rapprochement under the outgoing government which was run by China-friendly Nationalists. But ties have strained with the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Tsai Ing-wen, who is set to be sworn in as president on Friday.
Chinese state media have reported that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has carried out at least three landing exercises on the country’s southeast coast since the beginning of May. The largest drill was conducted in recent days by a regiment under the PLA’s 31st Group Army, which is based in coastal Fujian province, across the strait from Taiwan, the official China Daily newspaper said on Wednesday. [FULL STORY]