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What is happening between Taiwan and China? The Chinese army publishes a video that reads: Prepared for battle

What is happening between Taiwan and China? The Chinese army publishes a video

The Chinese military released a propaganda video on its social media accounts on Sunday (October 13), showing various military exercises accompanied by the caption: "prepared for battle".

The video released by the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Command, which has responsibility for an area that includes Taiwan, showed aircraft and warships operating together, mobile missile launchers and amphibious assault vehicles, accompanied by a small map of Taiwan.

The development comes after Taiwan's defense ministry said in a statement on Sunday that a Chinese navy group led by the carrier Liaoning had entered waters near the Bashi Channel, which connects the South China Sea to the Pacific and separates Taiwan from the Philippines.

China's Defense Ministry had not yet responded to requests for comment on Sunday, and neither had China's Taiwan Affairs Office.

China, which views democratically-governed Taiwan as its territory, opposes its President Lai Ching-te. The Chinese military routinely operates around the island, and Beijing has not ruled out using force to take control of Taiwan.

During a speech last week President Lai Ching-te said the People's Republic of China had no right to represent Taiwan, but he added that the island was willing to work with Beijing to tackle challenges such as climate change. His speech had a tone as strong as it was conciliatory, but which created anger in China./ VOA

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