The Chinese military said on Wednesday it had conducted a combat "readiness patrol" in the seas and airspace around Taiwan recently, saying it was necessary to respond to "collusion" between Washington and Taipei.
Over the past two years, China has bolstered its military actions around Taiwan, which it claims as its territory. The United States' recent declaration of support for Taiwan has enraged China, according to Reuters.
Last week, US President Joe Biden infuriated China by appearing to suggest a shift in the US policy of "strategic ambiguity" on Taiwan by declaring the US would take military action if China attacked the island. There had been no change in policy, according to US officials.
The People's Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command released a statement saying that a "readiness patrol" has taken place around Taiwan lately. It says the measure was "a necessary action against U.S.-Taiwan collusion" since recently Washington has "frequently made moves on the Taiwan issue.... instigating support for Taiwan independence forces."
The command warned that such action by the US "will push Taiwan into a dangerous situation."
Taiwan is a part of China, and Chinese troops are continuing to improve military training and preparations to "thwart" external meddling and acts by people who favor Taiwan's independence, according to the statement.
China Continues To Bully Taiwan
The statement did not mention the exact date of the military exercise. Though, Taiwan reported Monday that China sent 30 military aircraft into the island's air defense zone. According to Taipei's defense ministry, the recent Chinese military incursion was the largest since January, per an Al Jazeera report.
Taiwan has protested about similar flights in its Air Defense Identification Zone, or ADIZ, on several occasions.
No shots have been fired, and the Chinese planes have been flying in Taiwan's ADIZ, a larger area that Taiwan monitors and patrols to give it more time to respond to any threats.
Taiwan argues that only its people have the power to decide the island's fate, rejecting China's claims of sovereignty.
While Taiwan's government seeks peace, it has declared that it will defend itself if needed.
Meanwhile, Taiwan announced that it seeks to deepen trade and economic relations with the US. According to two senior Taiwanese government officials, there will be talks between the two governments "in a few weeks."
US, Taiwan Set To Bolster Economic Ties
CNN reported that the upcoming discussions aim to explore concrete ways to deepen the US-Taiwan trade and investment relationship." The officials added that the talks would focus on institutionalizing cooperation on labor, supply chain flexibility, environment, labor, and sustainable progress.
According to a senior official, a formal announcement will be made after coordination and consultations. The White House, on the other hand, has remained silent on Taiwan's declaration.
Taiwan may send a delegation to the SelectUSA meeting in Maryland in June, according to a senior US government official. The summit encourages foreign companies to invest in the United States.
Taipei was left out of President Joe Biden's Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), a regional economic plan launched earlier this week in Tokyo. The framework is Biden's attempt to engage a region with a growing Chinese influence.
In the traditional sense, the IPEF is not a trade agreement. It comprises a "pillar" linked to trade, as well as other sectors such as strengthening supply chains, developing sustainable energy, and fighting corruption.
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