China's armed forces periodically conduct exercises that include simulated attacks on foreign warships in the Taiwan Strait. In such cases, Taiwan provides intelligence to its international partners when they operate in these waters. This was reported by a senior Taiwanese security official, quoted by Reuters, reports News.bg.
Beijing, which considers democratically ruled Taiwan its territory, insists that it alone has sovereignty and jurisdiction over the strait - a key maritime trade route through which nearly half of the world's container traffic passes. However, the United States and Taiwan maintain the position that the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway.
American warships pass through the strait at intervals of several months, which regularly provokes a sharp reaction from Beijing. In addition, US allies such as Britain and Canada also make similar crossings, although less frequently.
According to Tsai Ming-yen, director-general of Taiwan's National Security Bureau, the navies of eight countries, including Britain, France, New Zealand and the United States, have made a total of 12 crossings of the strait since the beginning of the year.
He explained that China's main practice is to monitor each ship during such missions, sending its own naval units to escort it. In some cases, Beijing also uses fighter aircraft to carry out simulated attacks in order to demonstrate military power and assert claims over the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan has an extensive and technologically advanced network of radars and surveillance systems through which it constantly monitors traffic in the narrow sea corridor.