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BEIJING (AP) — China said it was conducting military training off its coast against Taiwan on Saturday after warning Speaker Nancy Pelosi to abandon plans to stop on the democratic island, which Beijing says is part of its territory.
The ruling Communist Party’s army wing, the People’s Liberation Army, conducted “live chimney drills” near the Pingtan Islands off Fujian Province from 8 a. m. by 9 p. m. , official Xinhua news firm said. The Maritime Safety Administration warned vessels to avoid the area.
Such training involves artillery. The one-sentence announcement gave no indication of whether Saturday’s training could also include missiles, fighter jets or other weapons.
President Xi Jinping warned his U. S. counterpart Joe Biden in a phone call thursday against “outside interference” in Beijing’s relations with the island.
China says Taiwan has no right to engage in foreign relations. He sees visits across the United States as a stimulus for the island to formalize its decades-old de facto independence.
The Defense Department warned Washington this week not to allow Pelosi, who has the same rank as Biden as head of one of the 3 branches of government, to travel to Taiwan. A spokesman said the PLA would take unspecified “strong measures” to prevent pro-independence activities.
The PLA has flown an increasing number of fighter jets and bombers near Taiwan and, abroad, has fired missiles on shipping lanes to the island.
Taiwan and China seceded in 1949 after a civil war that ended with a communist victory on the mainland.
The two governments say they shape a country, but disagree on which one is entitled to national leadership. They don’t have an official, but they are obligated through billions of dollars in industry and investment.