China Continues Military Training Around Taiwan

China continued its "real combat training" around Taiwan on Tuesday, following its announcement on Monday evening that it would end the drills. State television reported that several warships "continued to conduct real combat training in the waters around Taiwan to test the organizational and leadership capabilities of commanders at all levels and the combat effectiveness of weapons and equipment." The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense confirmed that it detected nine Chinese ships and 26 aircraft, including J-16 and Su-30, patrolling in combat readiness around the island this morning. The Taiwanese government has consistently condemned the drills but stated that it will not escalate or provoke. "91 PLA aircraft and 12 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond to these activities," tweeted the Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen wrote on her Facebook page at midnight on Monday, stating: "I represent my country to the world," and that her travels abroad and stop in the United States are not new and are what the people of Taiwan expect. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada described the Chinese military maneuvers around Taiwan as "a frightening training for maritime and air control around the island," stating that "China has apparently shown an 'unyielding stance' regarding Taiwan issues through these exercises."