China warns of rocket debris northeast of Taiwan in preparation for undisclosed plans

China’s local maritime authorities have issued a warning for possible rocket debris in Taiwan’s northeastern waters, saying ships will be banned from entering the area on April 16.

According to a press release on Thursday, the Maritime Security Administration of southern Fujian province said that ships would be prohibited from entering the waters from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. that day.

The announcement comes after China held large-scale military drills, which formally ended on Monday, in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s transit visit to the United States last week, where she held a state visit to the US in California. Met Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy. Tensions remain high and China sent warplanes more than 200 sorties toward Taiwan over the weekend, while its navy ships circled the self-ruled island.

China conducts second day of military drills around Taiwan, mimicking attack on island

The J-15 Chinese fighter jet took off from the Shandong aircraft carrier on April 9, 2023. Chinese officials issued a warning for possible rocket debris in the waters northeast of Taiwan. (AP, An Ni/Xinhua via file)

The declaration designates a rectangular area in the East China Sea to the northeast of Taiwan.

The notice sheds more light on the no-fly zone that China warned it was setting up earlier this week. Taiwan’s transport ministry said on Wednesday it had received a notice from the Civil Aviation Administration of China that it would set up a control zone to “restrict flights” over parts of northern Taiwan from April 16-18, in fact a Will establish an area where flights will not take place. allowed to go.

Click here to get the Fox News app

Taiwan said it strongly protested the notice and enabled China to reduce the flight ban time from three days to 27 minutes on the morning of 16 April. It is unclear what China plans to do at that point. Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that it was investigating the matter, but could not provide further details.

China considers Taiwan part of its territory, and the claim is a point of contention in Beijing’s relations with the US, the island’s biggest unofficial ally. The US sells arms to Taiwan and several US lawmakers have visited the island over the past year in a show of support.