Taiwan mobilized its most advanced new fighter jets , the F-16Vs, in a showdown carried out with a cycle of night drills after China's maxi maneuvers around the island in response to the American House speaker visit to Taipei , Nancy Pelosi.

The Defense Ministry reported that the operations aimed to simulate a strategic set- up against an invasion of China , while the deployed F-16Vs were equipped with US-made Harpoon anti-ship missiles to test "combat readiness".

The maneuvers involved an air base in the eastern county of Hualien , in a rare night demonstration in the wake of the unprecedented military activities carried out by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) with the mobilization of aeronautics, navy and special units among rockets and missiles ballistic. The six F-16Vs used took off for night reconnaissance and training missions, two of which were armed with missiles.

China strongly opposes the trade talks between the United States and Taiwan, assuring that it will take "all necessary measures to decisively safeguard sovereignty, security and development interests". This is the comment expressed by the spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce Shu Jueting, during the weekly briefing, on the "consensus on the negotiating mandate" reached late yesterday evening by Washington and Taipei in view of an agreement under the "Initiative US-Taiwan on 21st Century Trade "announced in June.

(Unioneonline / vl)

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