PLA conducts drills to southeast of Taiwan Island

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Monday conducted drills on assault against maritime targets and long-distance raids to the southeast of Taiwan island, said Shi Yi, spokesman of the PLA Eastern Theater Command.

The PLA Eastern Theater Command dispatched task forces of bombers, amphibious assault ships, anti-ship missiles to conduct drills on vessel-aircraft coordination, maritime target strike, long-distance raid, and comprehensive support in the waters and airspace to the southeast of the Taiwan island, Shi said.

The drills test capabilities of integrated operations inside and outside the island chain, and of neutralizing the enemy at maximum range, he said.

The Arab League convened an emergency meeting in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Sunday, strongly condemning Israel's recognition of Somaliland as an independent state and stressing the importance of upholding security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial unity.

Somaliland is an unalienable part of Somalia, said the league in a released statement, adding that Israel's recognition of Somaliland as an independent state is invalid, illegal, unacceptable, and seriously violates international law.

This move constitutes a blatant interference in Somalia's internal affairs, undermines Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, threatens regional peace and security, and will escalate tensions in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and broader regions, the league said.

The Arab League said it fully supports Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and supports its adoption of all necessary measures within the framework of the United Nations to address acts of violation.

"We value the fast response from the permanent ambassadors at the Arab League for this urgent meeting. Based on the strong ties that bound the United Arab Emirates with the brotherly Somalia nation, we confirm our unequivocal support to all that support its security, stability, sovereignty, and territorial unity," said Hamad Obaid Al-Zaabi, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the League of Arab States.

Some international observers said Israel's move is a dangerous precedent that would heighten regional instability and also expose the country's aim to establish a so-called "Greater Israel."

"Israel doesn't want peace and security in the region. That's why it's working on establishing new entities in the region, separating parts of countries from their mainland. That is a huge violation to the UN Charter and international law. This is a dangerous precedent in the world," said Mourad Fathy, a political analyst.

"Israel wants to expand its influence along the Red Sea due to its strategic importance and near the area around the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which controls the navigation there. [That] would give it an advantage. Israel wants to set foot in that region. This is part of an Israeli plan that aims at dividing the region, so that the establishment of 'Greater Israel' is possible," said Salah Gomaa, deputy editor in chief at the Middle East News Agency.

On Saturday, Egypt released a joint statement from the foreign ministers of 21 Arab and Islamic states rejecting Israel's move.

So far, more than 20 countries and international organizations have reiterated their support for Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and condemned Israel for threatening regional and international security.

Israel on Friday recognized Somaliland as an independent state, soon drawing waves of criticism from the international community.

Somaliland declared "independence" from Somalia in the 1990s but has never received recognition from the international community.