China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on Monday announced more military drills around Taiwan, a day after the scheduled end of the largest-ever exercises China has held near the island that was launched in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visiting Taipei.
The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command said Monday’s drills were focused on anti-submarine and sea assault operations. It’s not clear how long the new exercises will be held, but it’s a sign that Beijing will make some of its unprecedented military action in the area routine as a consequence of Pelosi’s trip.
During the drills that were held from Thursday to Sunday, China closed off six areas around Taiwan, simulating a blockade. Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications said Monday that airspace surrounding the island has been reopened, signaling China opened the areas it closed off.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry on Monday reported that more PLA warplanes crossed the median line, which separates the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. China typically avoided crossing that line, but that has changed since Pelosi visited Taiwan. Every day since August 3, Taiwan has spotted PLA aircraft crossing the median line.
President Biden said Monday that he was “concerned” with China’s military activity near Taiwan but said he doesn’t think the situation will escalate further. “I’m not worried, but I’m concerned they’re moving as much as they are. But I don’t think they’re going to do anything more than they are,” he said.
Tensions could still rise in the region as the US is planning to send ships and planes through the Taiwan Strait in the coming weeks. The US typically sails a Navy destroyer through the sensitive waterway about once a month, but it’s possible in the wake of Pelosi’s visit and the Chinese drills that Washington could be looking to send more ships. China also cut off military talks with the US in response to Pelosi’s trip, raising the chances of an accident between the two militaries.
Quack Quack what a$ racket
“I’m not worried.”
Alfred E Neuman finally got there.
Honestly Biden’s response makes me more worried
Biden no loner has an intellect to say anything on his own or by himself.
When the government is aggressively vague it usually means shit is going to hit the fan
before Piloshi’s visit, China did not cross the so-called median line of the Taiwan Strait. this unspoken rule is not recorded in the documents, but it was respected. after Pelosi’s drive, China crossed that line and China can’t be driven back. Some naive people think that these are teachings, that is, a temporary phenomenon. they are wrong. China regards Taiwan as part of China and the waters around Taiwan as Chinese territorial waters. now China will have a presence there, not only in the Tavn Strait, but around the whole of Taiwan, conducting regular exercises and patrols there on an ongoing basis.
it looks like Pelosi has achieved something completely different from what she was striving for.😉
Dude, china has been crossing the line and violating Taiwan airspace. A rudimentary Google search will confirm this.
If a rudimentary Google search will confirm this, then the Google I have must not be rudimentary, since it refers only to “incursions” into Taiwan’s “Air Defense Identification Zone” … which stretches well onto mainland China.
Care to share YOUR rudimentary Google search results that say otherwise?
absolutely right. before Pelosi’s visit, this was considered an “invasion” and a “violation” and most importantly, China recognized this and withdrew its air force and navy. after Pelosi’s visit, China does not consider this a violation and does not withdraw its air force and navy. so much clearer.
That’s it, the games of autonomy are over. there are no more “Taiwan territorial waters”, now there is a single China.
What makes you think she was “striving for” anything less than baiting the PLA into getting confrontational?
but she obviously didn’t plan that in connection with her visit, the PLA would put a big horse cock on Taiwan’s claims of having some kind of “Taiwan territorial waters” and “Taiwan airspace.”
annoy China? Yes. but it seems that such an answer was not expected.
Or are you suggesting that Pelosi is a Chinese agent running a Chinese unification operation?😲
Well, she was presumably HOPING that the PLA would get jiggy enough with “Taiwan territorial waters” and “Taiwan airspace” to produce a real incident.
maybe, but what happened is what happened.
Thomas, it looks like our bet on whether Russia will take all of Ukraine is dragging on. by the end of August, the fighting will go around Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. we will find out who is right only by the end of autumn. but I think that this year the special operation will not end.
in principle, Lavrov has already said “Russia will help the Ukrainian people get rid of the cannibalistic regime” and this is a completely official position.