Helicopters Hold Live-fire Drills In Southeast China
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published April 19, 2018 | 01:26 PM
Chinese combat helicopters conducted live-fire drills with missiles off the country's southeast coast, state media said Thursday, without confirming whether the exercises took place in the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
Beijing, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Chinese combat helicopters conducted live-fire drills with missiles off the country's southeast coast, state media said Thursday, without confirming whether the exercises took place in the sensitive Taiwan Strait.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) exercise took place Wednesday and involved various types of helicopters that tested "all-weather operational capability of the air force at sea," the official Xinhua news agency said.
State broadcaster CCTV showed footage of helicopters firing missiles at distant objects in the water. The reports did not say exactly where the exercises took place, but they occurred on the same day that China conducted live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait.
Beijing had announced the Taiwan Strait drills last week, further ramping up tensions following stark warnings against any independence moves by the self-ruled island, which China sees as its sovereign territory.
Vessels had been ordered to avoid a certain area off the Chinese mainland's coast, triggering speculation that a flotilla spearheaded by China's sole aircraft carrier would take part in the exercise.
But Taiwan's defence ministry said Wednesday that the drills only involved land-based artillery conducting "routine" shooting practice, accusing Beijing of exaggerating its plans as a form of "verbal intimidation and sabre-rattling".
The drills coincided with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to Swaziland, one of Taipei's few remaining international allies. Beijing has stepped up military patrols around Taiwan and used diplomatic pressure to isolate it internationally since Tsai took office.
China sees the democratically-governed island as a renegade part of its territory to be brought back into the fold and has not ruled out reunification by force. Beijing has also been angered by Washington's arms sales to Taipei, and China protested last month after President Donald Trump signed a bill allowing top-level US officials to travel to Taiwan.
Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979 but maintains trade relations with the island.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 19 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 19 April 2024
Rock-solid Ruud racks up season-leading win in Barcelona
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
G7 hears calls for 'critical' Ukraine aid
EU seeks to leverage might to confront China, US challenge
5 Customs officials martyred as their vehicle ambushed by terrorists in D I Khan
Pak-New Zealand match called off due to rain
NHA restores traffic on roads affected by recent rains in Balochistan
China to fully support Pakistan's efforts against terrorism: Ambassador Jiang
U.S. envoy calls on Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Poland arrests man over suspected plan to kill Zelensky
More Stories From World
-
Duplantis to unleash 'inner' pole vault contest as Olympics beckon
16 minutes ago -
Australia tells citizens to depart Israel, Palestinian territories if 'safe to do so'
26 minutes ago -
Netflix beats expectations on profit and subscribers
36 minutes ago -
US vetoes Palestinian request for full UN membership
36 minutes ago -
Defending champion Swiatek motors into Stuttgart quarter-finals
1 hour ago -
Netflix beats expectations on profit and subscribers
2 hours ago
-
Ecuador hit by power cuts of up to 13 hours amid drought
2 hours ago -
Israel launches strike against Iran: US media
2 hours ago -
Kenya military chopper crash kills defence chief
2 hours ago -
Oil surges, equities sink as Iran blasts fan MidEast escalation fears
2 hours ago -
Israel launches strike against Iran: US media
2 hours ago -
At G7, Blinken seeks European support for pressure on China
8 hours ago