The exercises will include anti-submarine exercises, apparently aimed at supporting the US in Taiwan in the event of a possible Chinese invasion, according to social media posts by the eastern leadership of China’s ruling Communist Party’s military arm, the People’s Liberation Army. The military said the drills, which include missile strikes, warplanes and ship movements crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait that separates the sides, were a response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-ruled island last week . China has ignored calls to ease tensions and there was no immediate indication when it would end what amounts to a blockade. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China “will resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, resolutely prevent the US from restricting China with the Taiwan issue, and resolutely crush the illusion of authorities in Taiwan that they are “relying on the US for independence”. Taiwan’s defense ministry said on Sunday it had detected a total of 66 aircraft and 14 warships conducting naval and air exercises. The island responded by putting its military on alert and deploying ships, planes and other means to track Chinese aircraft, ships and drones that “simulate attacks on the island of Taiwan and our ships at sea.” Meanwhile, Taiwan’s official Central News Agency reported that Taiwan’s military will hold live-fire artillery drills in southern Pingtung County on Tuesday and Thursday in response to the Chinese drills. The exercises will include snipers, combat vehicles, armored vehicles as well as attack helicopters, the report said, citing an unnamed source. China claims Taiwan as its territory and has threatened to annex it by force if necessary. The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war, but Beijing sees visits by foreign officials to Taiwan as recognition of its sovereignty. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called on the international community to “support democratic Taiwan” and “stop any escalation of the regional security situation.” The Group of Seven industrialized nations also criticized China’s actions, prompting Beijing to cancel a meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Japanese counterpart, Yoshimasa Hayashi. China suspended defense and climate talks with the US and imposed sanctions on Pelosi in retaliation for her visit. The Biden administration and Pelosi say the US remains committed to a “one China” policy that extends formal diplomatic recognition to Beijing while allowing strong informal relations and defense ties with Taipei. The US, however, criticized Beijing’s actions in the Taiwan Strait, with White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre calling them “fundamentally irresponsible”. “There is no need and no reason for this escalation,” Jean-Pierre said. In Washington, Taiwan’s de facto ambassador Bi-kim Hsiao said China had no reason to “be so furious” about Pelosi’s visit, which follows a long tradition of American lawmakers visiting Taiwan. “Well, you know, we’ve been living under the threat from China for decades,” Hsiao told CBS News on Sunday. “If you have a child who is being bullied at school, you don’t say you don’t go to school. You try to find a way to deal with the bully. “The risks are posed by Beijing,” Hsiao said. On a visit to Myanmar, whose Chinese-backed military government has been accused of killing its opponents, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Washington was “taking the opportunity to step up its military deployment in the region, which it deserves great vigilance and a decisive boycott on all sides.” “China’s firm stance” is aimed at “ensuring peace in the Taiwan Strait and regional stability,” Wang was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency. Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called for tensions to ease. “Australia continues to call for restraint, Australia continues to urge de-escalation and this is not something Australia is asking for alone, and the whole region is concerned about the current situation, the whole region is asking for stability to be restored,” Wong said. journalists in Canberra.
title: “China Expands Threatening Military Exercises Around Taiwan " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-25” author: “Chris Hawthorne”
China said on Monday it was expanding threatening military exercises around Taiwan that have disrupted shipping and air traffic and raised serious concerns about a potential conflict in a region critical to global trade. The announcement adds uncertainty to the crisis that developed last week with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. The exercises will include anti-submarine exercises, apparently aimed at supporting the US in Taiwan in the event of a possible Chinese invasion, according to social media posts by the eastern leadership of China’s ruling Communist Party’s military arm, the People’s Liberation Army. China claims Taiwan as its own territory, and its leader, Xi Jinping, has focused on bringing the self-ruled island republic under mainland control, by force if necessary. The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war, but Beijing sees visits by foreign officials to Taiwan as recognition of its sovereignty. Xi is seeking a third term as Communist Party leader later this year. His control of the armed forces and what he has defined as China’s “core interests” — including Taiwan, territorial claims in the South China Sea and arch-rival Japan — are key to maintaining his nationalist credentials. . The military said the drills, which include missile strikes, warplanes and ship movements across the median line of the Taiwan Strait that separates the sides, were a response to Pelosi’s visit. China has ignored calls to ease tensions and there was no immediate indication when it would end what amounts to a blockade. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China “will resolutely safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, resolutely prevent the US from restricting China with the Taiwan issue, and resolutely crush the illusion of authorities in Taiwan that they are “relying on the US for independence”. China’s slowing economic growth, which has reduced choices among migrant workers as well as college graduates, has raised the specter of social unrest. The party has maintained its power through total control of the press and social media, along with a crackdown on political opponents, independent lawyers and activists working on issues from online free expression to LGBQT rights. China does not allow polls and public opinion is difficult to judge. However, it is generally supportive of the government and its efforts to restore China’s former dominant role in the region, which puts it at odds with the United States and its allies, including Japan and Australia. Taiwan’s defense ministry said on Sunday it had detected a total of 66 aircraft and 14 warships conducting naval and air exercises. The island responded by putting its military on alert and deploying ships, planes and other means to track Chinese aircraft, ships and drones that “simulate attacks on the island of Taiwan and our ships at sea.” Meanwhile, Taiwan’s official Central News Agency reported that Taiwan’s military will hold live-fire artillery drills in southern Pingtung County on Tuesday and Thursday in response to the Chinese drills. The exercises will include snipers, combat vehicles, armored vehicles as well as attack helicopters, the report said, citing an unnamed source. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen called on the international community to “support democratic Taiwan” and “stop any escalation of the regional security situation.” The Group of Seven industrialized nations also criticized China’s actions, prompting Beijing to cancel a meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Japanese counterpart, Yoshimasa Hayashi. China suspended defense and climate talks with the US and imposed sanctions on Pelosi in retaliation for her visit. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Cambodia over the weekend that Pelosi’s visit was peaceful and did not represent a change in US policy towards Taiwan. He accused China of using the trip as “a pretext to increase provocative military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait.” The Biden administration and Pelosi say the US remains committed to a “one China” policy that extends formal diplomatic recognition to Beijing while allowing strong informal relations and defense ties with Taipei. The US, however, criticized Beijing’s actions in the Taiwan Strait, with White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre calling them “fundamentally irresponsible”. “There is no need and no reason for this escalation,” Jean-Pierre said. In Washington, Taiwan’s de facto ambassador Bi-kim Hsiao said China had no reason to “be so furious” about Pelosi’s visit, which follows a long tradition of US lawmakers visiting Taiwan. “Well, you know, we’ve been living under the threat from China for decades,” Hsiao told CBS News on Sunday. “If you have a child who is being bullied at school, you don’t say you don’t go to school. You try to find a way to deal with the bully. “The risks are posed by Beijing,” Hsiao said. On a visit to Myanmar, whose Chinese-backed military government has been accused of killing its opponents, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Washington was “taking the opportunity to step up its military deployment in the region, which it deserves great vigilance and a decisive boycott from all sides.” “China’s firm stance” is aimed at “ensuring peace in the Taiwan Strait and regional stability,” Wang was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency. Meanwhile, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has called for tensions to ease. “Australia continues to call for restraint, Australia continues to urge de-escalation and this is not something Australia is asking for alone, and the whole region is concerned about the current situation, the whole region is asking for stability to be restored,” Wong said. journalists in Canberra.
