China simulates attack on Taiwan on the second day of military exercises.
Chinese military maneuvers are a response to Taiwan's leader's visit to the United States.
247 - Chinese military officials simulated precision strikes against Taiwan on the second day of exercises around the island on Sunday (9). The island's Defense Ministry, considered by China to be a renegade province, says it is monitoring China's missile forces, Reuters reports.
China is conducting three days of military exercises around the island after Taiwan's leader, Tsai Ing-wen, returned from a visit to the United States.
Chinese state television reported that combat readiness patrols and exercises around Taiwan are continuing.
"Under the unified command of the theater's joint operations command center, various types of units conducted simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on the island of Taiwan and in the surrounding maritime areas, and continue to maintain an offensive posture around the island," he stated.
A source familiar with the security situation in the region told Reuters that China was conducting simulated air and sea strikes against "foreign military targets" in the waters off the southwest coast of Taiwan.
"Taiwan is not their only target," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said that by noon on Sunday (local time), it had spotted 58 Chinese aircraft, including Su-30 fighter jets and H-6 bombers, as well as nine ships, around Taiwan.