China announced on Monday that it would conduct military exercises in the waters and airspace around Taiwan. Within 24 hours, 130 Chinese fighter jets were spotted around the island.
China’s army, navy, air force and rocket force are participating in the exercises.
In connection with the military exercise, China took the opportunity to issue a “serious warning” against “external forces” interfering in China’s internal affairs. The exercise began less than two weeks after the US approved a large-scale arms sale to Taiwan.
In a statement on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China will “strongly oppose” the deal.
The government in Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of China, but in practice Taiwan has been self-governing and separate since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.
