Chinese And Taiwanese Warships Shadow Each Other As War Toys Over Collapse Taiwan

Nancy Pelosi’s visit last week to the self-ruled island angered China, which responded by test-firing ballistic missiles over the capital, Taipei, for the first time and cutting some ties with the United States. About 10 warships each from China and Taiwan sailed in close proximity in the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, with some Chinese vessels crossing the median line, an unofficial buffer that separates the two sides, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. As the Chinese forces “pushed” the line, as they did on Saturday, the Taiwanese side remained close to watch and, where possible, deny the Chinese the ability to cross. “Both sides are showing restraint,” the person said, describing the maneuvers as “cat and mouse.” “One side is trying to get through and the other is standing in the way and it forces them to a more disadvantageous position and eventually back to the other side.” Taiwan said land-based anti-ship missiles and Patriot surface-to-air missiles are on standby. The Chinese drills, centered on six zones around the island, began on Thursday and were scheduled to last until midday on Sunday. China’s military announced on Saturday that it is conducting joint sea and air drills north, southwest and east of Taiwan, with a focus on testing land and sea attack capabilities. The United States called the exercises an escalation. “These activities represent a significant escalation in China’s efforts to change the status quo. They are provocative, irresponsible and increase the risk of miscalculation,” a White House spokesman said. “It is also contrary to our long-standing goal of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which is what the world expects.” China cut off communication through various channels with the United States as part of its response to Pelosi’s visit, including between military theater orders and on climate change. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken accused China of taking “irresponsible” steps and moving away from prioritizing a peaceful resolution towards the use of force. Taiwan’s military said on Saturday that the Chinese ships and planes taking part in the drills were conducting a simulated attack on the island, which China claims as its territory. Taiwan’s defense ministry later said its forces scrambled with aircraft to warn away 20 Chinese aircraft, including 14 that crossed the median line. It also detected 14 Chinese vessels operating around the Taiwan Straits. The ministry released a photo showing Taiwanese sailors closely monitoring a nearby Chinese ship. Taiwanese forces on Friday fired flares to warn of drones flying over the Kinmen Islands and unidentified aircraft flying over the Matsu Islands. Both island groups are located off the coast of China. “China’s military exercises have unilaterally changed the current situation in the region and seriously damaged peace in the Taiwan Strait,” the ministry said. Pelosi, a longtime critic of China and a political ally of President Joe Biden, arrived in Taiwan late Tuesday for the highest visit by a US official to the island in decades, despite Chinese warnings. She said her visit showed the unwavering commitment of the US to support Taiwan’s democracy. “The world is faced with a choice between autocracy and democracy,” he said. She also stressed that her trip was “not about changing the status quo in Taiwan or the region.” Taiwan has been self-governing since 1949, when Mao Zedong’s communists took power in Beijing after defeating Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalist Kuomintang in a civil war, forcing them to retreat to the island. China says its relations with Taiwan are an internal matter and reserves the right to bring the island under its control, by force if necessary. Taiwan rejects China’s claims, saying only the Taiwanese people can decide their future. Speaking during a visit to the Philippines, Blinken said the United States was hearing concerns from allies about what he said were dangerous and destabilizing actions by China, but Washington had tried to avoid escalating the situation. He said China’s suspension of bilateral dialogue in eight key areas will punish the world. China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, said Blinken was spreading “misinformation,” adding: “We want to issue a warning to the United States: do not act hastily, do not create a bigger crisis.” China did not mention the suspension of military talks at the highest levels, such as with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley. Although those talks were rare, officials said they were important in an emergency.

title: “Chinese And Taiwanese Warships Shadow Each Other As War Toys Over Collapse Taiwan " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-06” author: “Etta Hill”

Nancy Pelosi’s visit last week to the self-ruled island angered China, which responded by test-firing ballistic missiles over the capital, Taipei, for the first time and cutting some ties with the United States. About 10 warships each from China and Taiwan sailed in close proximity in the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, with some Chinese vessels crossing the median line, an unofficial buffer that separates the two sides, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. As the Chinese forces “pushed” the line, as they did on Saturday, the Taiwanese side remained close to watch and, where possible, deny the Chinese the ability to cross. “Both sides are showing restraint,” the person said, describing the maneuvers as “cat and mouse.” “One side is trying to get through and the other is standing in the way and it forces them to a more disadvantageous position and eventually back to the other side.” Taiwan said land-based anti-ship missiles and Patriot surface-to-air missiles are on standby. The Chinese drills, centered on six zones around the island, began on Thursday and were scheduled to last until midday on Sunday. China’s military announced on Saturday that it is conducting joint sea and air drills north, southwest and east of Taiwan, with a focus on testing land and sea attack capabilities. The United States called the exercises an escalation. “These activities represent a significant escalation in China’s efforts to change the status quo. They are provocative, irresponsible and increase the risk of miscalculation,” a White House spokesman said. “It is also contrary to our long-standing goal of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, which is what the world expects.” China cut off communication through various channels with the United States as part of its response to Pelosi’s visit, including between military theater orders and on climate change. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken accused China of taking “irresponsible” steps and moving away from prioritizing a peaceful resolution towards the use of force. Taiwan’s military said on Saturday that the Chinese ships and planes taking part in the drills were conducting a simulated attack on the island, which China claims as its territory. Taiwan’s defense ministry later said its forces scrambled with aircraft to warn away 20 Chinese aircraft, including 14 that crossed the median line. It also detected 14 Chinese vessels operating around the Taiwan Straits. The ministry released a photo showing Taiwanese sailors closely monitoring a nearby Chinese ship. Taiwanese forces on Friday fired flares to warn of drones flying over the Kinmen Islands and unidentified aircraft flying over the Matsu Islands. Both island groups are located off the coast of China. “China’s military exercises have unilaterally changed the current situation in the region and seriously damaged peace in the Taiwan Strait,” the ministry said. Pelosi, a longtime critic of China and a political ally of President Joe Biden, arrived in Taiwan late Tuesday for the highest visit by a US official to the island in decades, despite Chinese warnings. She said her visit showed the unwavering commitment of the US to support Taiwan’s democracy. “The world is faced with a choice between autocracy and democracy,” he said. She also stressed that her trip was “not about changing the status quo in Taiwan or the region.” Taiwan has been self-governing since 1949, when Mao Zedong’s communists took power in Beijing after defeating Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalist Kuomintang in a civil war, forcing them to retreat to the island. China says its relations with Taiwan are an internal matter and reserves the right to bring the island under its control, by force if necessary. Taiwan rejects China’s claims, saying only the Taiwanese people can decide their future. Speaking during a visit to the Philippines, Blinken said the United States was hearing concerns from allies about what he said were dangerous and destabilizing actions by China, but Washington had tried to avoid escalating the situation. He said China’s suspension of bilateral dialogue in eight key areas will punish the world. China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, said Blinken was spreading “misinformation,” adding: “We want to issue a warning to the United States: do not act hastily, do not create a bigger crisis.” China did not mention the suspension of military talks at the highest levels, such as with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley. Although those talks were rare, officials said they were important in an emergency.