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CHINA’S LARGEST-EVER military exercises surrounding Taiwan are drawing to a close today following a controversial visit last week to the self-ruled island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Beijing has raged at the trip by Pelosi — the second in the line of succession to the US presidency — ripping up a series of talks and cooperation agreements with Washington, most notably on climate change and defence.
It has also deployed fighter jets, warships and ballistic missiles around Taiwan in what analysts have described as practice for a blockade and ultimate invasion of the island.
Those exercises are set to end today, though Beijing has announced fresh drills in the Yellow Sea — located between China and the Korean peninsula — to take place until 15 August.
Taiwan’s transport ministry said six of the seven “temporary danger zones” China warned airlines to avoid ceased to be in effect as of noon on Sunday (4am Irish time), signalling a drawdown of the drills.
It said the seventh zone, in waters east of Taiwan, would remain in effect until 10am local time (2am Irish time) on Monday.
“Relevant flights and sailings can gradually resume,” the ministry said in a statement.
Taipei said some routes were still being affected in the seventh area, and authorities would continue to monitor ship movements there.
Earlier on Sunday, Beijing conducted “practical joint exercises in the sea and airspace surrounding Taiwan Island as planned”, the Chinese military’s Eastern Command said.
The drills were focused “on testing the joint firepower on the ground and long-range air strike capabilities”, it added.
Taipei’s defence ministry also confirmed that China had dispatched “planes, vessels and drones” around the Taiwan Strait, “simulating attacks on Taiwan’s main island and on ships in our waters”.
Beijing also sent drones over Taiwan’s outlying islands, it added.
In response, the democratic island said it mobilised a “joint intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance system to closely monitor the enemy situation” as well as sending planes and vessels.
Su Tseng-chang, Taiwan’s premier, said China is “barbarously using military action” to disturb peace in the Taiwan Strait.
“We call on the Chinese government not to go around wielding its military power, showing its muscles everywhere and jeopardising the peace of the region,” he told reporters today.
China’s defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment about the expected conclusion of the drills on Sunday.
‘A dangerous opponent’
To show how close China’s forces have been getting to Taiwan’s shores, Beijing’s military released a video of an air force pilot filming the island’s coastline and mountains from his cockpit.
And the Eastern Command of the Chinese army shared a photo it said was taken of a warship patrolling seas near Taiwan with the island’s shoreline visible in the background.
The drills have also seen Beijing fire ballistic missiles over Taiwan’s capital, according to Chinese state media.
Taipei has remained defiant throughout China’s sabre-rattling, insisting it will not be cowed by its “evil neighbour”.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry urged Beijing on Saturday to “immediately stop raising tensions and taking provocative actions to intimidate the Taiwanese people”.
But experts have warned the drills reveal an increasingly emboldened Chinese military capable of carrying out a gruelling blockade of the self-ruled island as well as obstructing US forces from coming to its aid.
“In some areas, the PLA might even surpass US capabilities,” Grant Newsham, a researcher at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies and former US Navy officer, told AFP, referring to China’s military by its official name.
“If the battle is confined to the area right around Taiwan, today’s Chinese navy is a dangerous opponent — and if the Americans and Japanese do not intervene for some reason, things would be difficult for Taiwan.”
‘Punishing the world’
The scale and intensity of China’s drills — as well as Beijing’s withdrawal from key talks on climate and defence — have triggered outrage in the United States and other democracies.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, meeting with his Philippine counterpart on Saturday, said Washington was “determined to act responsibly” to avoid a major global crisis.
China should not hold talks on issues of global concern such as climate change “hostage”, Blinken said, as it “doesn’t punish the United States, it punishes the world”.
The United Nations has also urged the two superpowers to continue to work together.
“For the secretary-general, there is no way to solve the most pressing problems of all the world without an effective dialogue and cooperation between the two countries,” his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
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It is high time that everyone, absolutely everyone in society recognise that Mná na hÉireann hold up half the sky.
What are our gardai doing to protect our women from violent individuals as this
Our gardai need more resources and manpower this is happening to much in our society
@Richarddoherty: We need whole scale reform of our justice laws in general where dangerous individuals don’t get freed on bail as soon as they commit crimes and when they do get to court, that they don’t get away with lenient sentences. How often have we seen perpetrators of violent acts such as this having multiple previous convictions, yet free to go about their business? This horrific murder should be the impetus for real change where people are not afraid to walk or run alone on our roads and streets. Yes bring in education from an early age, but unfortunately it won’t have an immediate effect if nothing else is done in addition to it.
@Richarddoherty: do you know something nobody else does?
@Richarddoherty: the Gardaí can’t be everywhere. They aren’t the problem, it’s happening too much because of men thinking they can assault and harrass women whenever they feel like it. Women should be able to go for a run, or a walk, or do whatever the hell they want without feeling unsafe or like they might need the help of a guard.
@Longlin: Sherlock Longlin’s cracked it already. Rounded up all the usual suspects and waterboarded them until a couple confessed. Next.
@Richarddoherty: Can you tell Michael Tormeys family that he doesn’t matter and the Garda should be doing more to protect women.
@Sam Harms: because there aren’t enough of them. I live in southern Spain and have never driven more than 20 minutes without seeing a police car. I lived 50 years in Ireland and saw no more than 25 check points. I drove at least 50 miles a day
@Ian James Burgess: more guards isn’t going to stop men assaulting women. The only thing that can stop that is a change in attitude. More guards isn’t going to stop men shouting and whistling at women walking down the street, or grabbing them in a bar. We shouldn’t need a guard on every street to make us feel safe.
@Sam Harms: You are mixing up men who show disrespect to women and men who murder women. They are two very different things. Men who murder women have serious mental health issues. Usually, this come from childhood abuse of some form. Google any physco killer and look at their background. If I was with Charles Mason in a bar and he said some derogatory about a woman, me calling him up on it was never going to stop him killing women. He killed women because his mother sold him for beer. Its mental health services and better sentencing that needs to be looked at, don’t be blaming millions of innocent men. If a woman kills her children in her own home do people say, women do better? They certainly do not, there would be uproar. they would say why didn’t she get the help she needed.
@Fandandi: and by the way, I’m not saying men shouldn’t do better in terms of respecting women in general, that needs to happen, I’m saying it won’t stop random killings on any gender
@Richarddoherty: can you imagine being a Guard. Arrest a t.h.u.g. for the 50th time. Go to court. Solicitor appointed for free legal aid. Solicitor presents a case the poor individual has had it tough… soft or suspended sentence… utterly deflating for the Gaurd.
May she rest in peace
I couldn’t make a vigil today, but there in spirit. Absolutely heartbreaking stuff. I’m glad the country showed up. I hope the all those who need to hear it and who think everyday cat calling and harassment or stand by silently as their mates do it. are listening carefully. Their time is up. We need action on every front now – 14% of rapes in Ireland make it to court – 14% of women have faced violence in the home. The women of Ireland are angry, scared and exhausted. When will it change?
@Lucy Legacy: There are vigils being held across the country tomorrow: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2714251528881837&id=1808278706145795
@Lucy Legacy: why do people feel the need to create a divide between the genders? The women of Ireland are angry etc etc. You think the 99% of men in Ireland who would never even consider hurting a woman aren’t also disgusted with what happened? Do people think it’s helpful to casually pass blame onto someone because of their gender?
@Stephen Foster: this attitude by the keyboard warriors on their high horses has ensured a man’s life has been wrecked because of the level of ineptitude by the Gardai regarding the questioning of an innocent person. People are so willing to hate an individual or element of society if it seems everyone else is. Gotta love groupthink.
@Stephen Foster: The known figures of how many women (children, and vulnerable others) have been harassed, (sexually) assaulted, and murdered clearly shows it is not “99% of men in Ireland who would never consider hurting a woman”. The actual real figure is too uncomfortable for people, because then they would have to own their (past) behaviour and/or the actions of those they thought they could trust.
@Felicity Hensen: what is the real figure ?
@Stephen Foster: exactly my son was attacked randomly had his face slashed guards didn’t entertain it but if he was female would more have been done devastated over what happened this poor lady and hope her killer will be got but I fear with this outpour against violence against women what’s going to happen if a woman feels uncomfortable because my son looked the wrong way innocently and he gets hauled in our younger generation of boys will be terrified to approach a woman to ask her out on a date
@Felicity Hensen: no parent should lose their child to murder no matter what gender they are no child should be murdered no woman should be murdered no man should be murdered it’s all over the board and I’m actually sick over this beautiful lady been murdered but it actually happens every day in this country and gender
dosent matter
@Felicity Hensen: what is the figure felicity and what are you saying.
@Felicity Hensen: you cannot conflate wolf whistling with murder. These are two separate issues.
Typical f journal no comment s allowed on the government ill make sure the real voters know what the journal are at
Was an emotional evening in Ennischrone Co sligo. A huge thank you to the local business that supported the vigil like pudding row easky, Joe queenan local council representative, waterfront restaurant ennischrone, EK photocare ballina, Blooms and Things Florists ballina, David McGowan funeral director, Karina hallinan, Michael McGowan & Fr Gerry for mass and ballads Claire hannon local resident, Peter regan local resident, local GAA club, enniscrone anglers, Midwest & today fm for advertising on the radio and to everyone who attended. The shrine will be there over the weekend so if your around please keep the candles burning. The book of condolences will be available in ennischrone Church over the weekend for anyone whom couldn’t attend this evening. May she rest in peace
I think it’s pathetic that Sinn Fein are posting footage of vigils for Aishling Murphy and condemning violence against women when they refuse to address the Jean McConville case. Let’s hear from Mary Lou how the IRA murdered a Mother and dumped her body and left the family in torment for decades. The IRA didn’t care about sex when it came to their victims but are now trying to use the sex car by having females leading the party. Would somebody please ask Mary Lou and Michelle O Neill how they can campaign for women’s right knowing what their party has don in the past.
We need to trust women in the running of their safe spaces and stop allowing men to shout them down
They removed my comments, I have never ever seen so much hypocrisy!
Lowest of the low.
You people are not journalists!
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