Beijing [China], April 2: The Chinese military announced today, April 2, that it has conducted military exercises in the central and southern areas of the Taiwan Strait, continuing the exercises that began on April 1.
The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) today, April 2, conducted a military exercise codenamed "Strait Thunder-2025A" in the central and southern areas of the Taiwan Strait , according to Xinhua News Agency.
The exercise focused on identification and verification, warning and expulsion, interception and detention to test the military's ability to regulate and control the area, blockade and joint control, as well as precision strikes on important military targets, said Shi Yi, spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command.
A senior Taiwanese security official told Reuters there were more than 10 Chinese warships in Taiwan's "reaction zone" this morning and the Chinese coast guard was taking part in drills.
On April 1, the Eastern Theater Command began joint military exercises involving the army, navy and rocket forces around Taiwan, according to Xinhua. The PLA said the exercises were intended to "send a stern warning and strong deterrence" to Taiwanese authorities, according to Reuters.
After China conducted military exercises around Taiwan on April 1, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that US President Donald Trump "is emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait," according to AFP. Ms. Leavitt also reiterated that the US "opposes any unilateral attempt to change the status quo through force or coercion."
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
