China justifies military drills near Taiwan as 'necessary action' to defend sovereignty

China on September 16 defended military exercises it conducted near Taiwan strait last week as "necessary action" to defend country's sovereignty. Beijing carried out large-scale naval and air exercises between mainland Taiwan and Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands, which was strongly opposed by Republic of China (Taiwan) as it accused People Liberation Army (PLA) of violating its air defence identification zone (ADIZ). 

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Aimed at Western forces

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, during a press conference, told reporters that exercises were aimed at interference by western forces in region, referring to United States, which has been carrying out its own military activities in South China Sea and has deployed two carriers. Xiaoguang said that drills were also aimed at Taiwan's independence activities adding that it was t in any way directed towards people of Taiwan. 

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Xiaoguang furr slammed Taiwan for becoming a pawn into hands of foreign forces in trying to stop China's development. He asserted that Taiwan is and will continue to remain a "sacred" and "inseparable" part of China. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and sees United States, ROC's biggest arms supplier, as a threat to its influence in region. China has on several occasions carried out military drills near Taiwan strait, mainly as a show of strength. 

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Taiwan's defense ministry on August 10 had informed that country's air force intercepted Chinese fighter jets who had crossed median line of sensitive Formosa strait, separating self-ruled island and mainland China. alleged violation took place during high-profile visit by United States Secretary of Health Alex Azar, who became first US politician to visit Taiwan in four decades. In June, Chinese fighter jets were intercepted by Taiwan on five different occasions. 

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