China on Thursday encircled Taiwan with warships and warplanes and fired missiles in the area in its largest-ever drills around the island in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei.
The South China Morning Post reported that China broke decades-old tacit rules it established with Taiwan by sending ships and planes across the median line that separates the Taiwan Strait, firing missiles over the island, and simulating a blockade on the island, describing Thursday’s drills as a “day of firsts.”
According to the Post, China fired missiles over Taiwan for the first time. China has rarely crossed the median line before, but now the incursion is expected to become routine in the wake of Pelosi’s visit.
Thursday was just the first day of drills that are set to last through Sunday. China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) shut down six areas around Taiwan in what effectively amounts to a military blockade. According to China’s Xinhua news agency, over 10 destroyers and frigates from the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command “conducted joint blockade operations in waters off the Taiwan Island.” China also reportedly deployed an aircraft carrier and one nuclear submarine.
The PLA’s Eastern Theater Commands said in a statement that it launched “precision” strikes in the designated areas around Taiwan.
“All the missiles hit the target accurately, testing the precision strike and area denial capabilities. The entire live ammunition launch training mission has been successfully completed, and the relevant sea and airspace controls have been lifted,” the statement said.
The US responded to the military drills by canceling a planned test of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile to reduce tensions, although the Pentagon did order the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan to stay near Taiwan and “monitor the area.”
Imagine…if Pelosi just didn’t go to the damn island and stir the hornet’s nest. And now the hornets are out…
She seems to have that effect…
I advocate China sending unarmed diplomats ashore and explaining China goes by the Star Trek principle of non interference in evolution and everything will stay the same except Taiwan may send a delegation to the Chinese government if ever they decide to do so, and China will base a few ships there to put a stop to social terrorism in the neighborhood by US/NATO.
China’s president has been saying for quite some time he is worried the US will take the world with it in a childish rage. Although I disagree in the long term with President Xi’s reliance on internal consumption to pump the engine of economic growth, especially regarding an automobile culture complete with plastic fantastics; The Chinese president is very sophisticated looking ahead to democratic evolution. He is advanced socially as well as correct.
Ah yes, organ harvesting from the unwilling will fight global warming.
Even if you weren’t uttering Ukraine style porn fiction news,
Who buys them?
You can not handle reality.
Pelosi did a one off thing China in response changed the parameters. This is how u engage with the us.
Very concise and very correct.