The military of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) launched military training exercises around the island of Taiwan.

European Pravda reports about it with reference to The Guardian.

The maneuvers started the day after the visit of Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives.

It has been reported that Chinese military training exercises around the island, which would include the live fire, will continue until noon of August 7.

“For these combat exercises, six major areas around the island were designated. During this period, all ships and aircraft should not enter the respective naval areas and airspace,” the PRC said.

The six identified zones are surrounding the island and occasionally overlap with Taiwanese territorial waters. Some are also positioned in close proximity to the key ports.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army stated that the naval and air exercises will be conducted to the north, southwest, and southeast of the Republic of China.

Taiwanese authorities have accused China of, in effect, conducting a blockade. Taiwan’s Ministry of Defence claims that its Armed Forces are operating in the usual mode and monitoring its surroundings.

Previously, Gu Zhong, Deputy Chief of Staff of the PLA Eastern Theatre Command, stated that the exercise is a necessary response to the “dangerous move made by the US and Taiwanese authorities” on the Taiwan issue, Suspilne writes.

“Air assault, land, air, and other targeted exercises along with combat firing of precision-guided weapons will be conducted to comprehensively test the performance of weapons and equipment and the joint combat capabilities of the troops, as well as to prepare for responding to any crisis situations,” he said.

Gu Zhong noted that China warns those who visit Taiwan “with evil intentions and the desire to recognize the ‘independence of Taiwan'” that the command has full confidence and ability to resist “all provocations and resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

As previously reported, on August 2, prior to the visit of Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, to the Republic of China, the Ministry of Defense of Taiwan increased its level of combat readiness level during the timespan between the morning of August 2 to the afternoon of August 4.