China fired multiple rounds of missiles around Taiwan after Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the latter last week.
Source: Bing images
The rising tension between the US and China is the result of US Senate Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last week. China has never shied away from flexing muscle in the South-China Sea along with Taiwan until the Strait of Malacca. Growing Chinese presence in the East has been a cause of concern for the West, especially the U.S.
China had warned of consequences if the U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi proceeds with a visit to Taiwan which is the self-governing island democracy, which is self-proclaimed by this country as its own territory. A powerful name in the U.S. Nancy Pelosi is second in line for the presidency and would be the highest-ranking U.S. politician to visit Taiwan since 1997.
China had threatened unspecified “resolute and strong measures” if she went ahead, which analysts say could cause tensions to spike in the Taiwan Strait, considered a major potential Asian powder keg, however, Pelosi visited Taiwan which led to a high-level military exercise near Taiwan.
After Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, this country has begun a military exercise, firing multiple ballistic missiles posing an escalation to a full-blown war in an unmatched demonstration of power. An aircraft carrier with a nuclear submarine is leading the exercises, which are expected to last until Monday, as reported by China.
The Taiwanese authorities confirmed that 11 Dongfeng were flown over the coastal regions to mark the commencement of the exercises along with fiery rhetoric and warnings to Taiwan’s western allies not to interfere.
However, five of the missiles reportedly landed within the Exclusive Economic Zone of Japan, which falls 200 miles within the territorial waters. “China’s actions this time have a serious impact on the peace and stability of the region and the international community,” said Yoshimasa Hayashi, the foreign minister, asking China to immediately end the exercises.
The PLA Eastern Theatre Command said it had successfully completed various missions during recent drills around Taiwan and effectively tested the troops’ joint operation combat capacity, state media outlet Global Times reported. The command will regularly organize combat readiness patrols in the Taiwan Strait, it added.
On Tuesday, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said this country used military drills to influence the international community’s freedom of navigation in the waters and airspace of the Taiwan Strait and to prepare for an invasion.
Addressing an international press conference, Wu said China’s decision to carry out military exercises in areas surrounding Taiwan is a gross violation of Taiwan’s rights under international law and gravely threatens regional peace and security.
“…China has used the drills in its military playbook to prepare for the invasion of Taiwan. It is conducting large-scale military exercises and missile launches, as well as cyberattacks, disinformation, and economic coercion, in an attempt to weaken public morale in Taiwan,” he said.
Justifying its large-scale military drills and airspace violations in the East and South China sea, China on Tuesday said that after Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, the country is now preparing itself for every possible scenario.
Chinese Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said that Pelosi’s Taiwan visit is a major provocation that upgraded US-Taiwan relations and a real threat to China’s sovereignty & territorial integrity adding that this country has to prepare itself for every possible scenario.
Commenting on the US foreign policy on Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan and NATO eastward expansion, she questioned if the US believed in the basic principles itself.
Amid rising Chinese aggression, Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said that the country is involved in robust training to respond to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) which is continuing its military drills and demonstrating that it is a threat to the neighboring region.
Although there have been whispers of the Chinese invasion of Taiwan, nothing substantial has been observed as of yet. However, with the world moving towards extremism, with nations like Russia openly invading Ukraine for not complying with their demands, it will get difficult for islands like Taiwan to retain their singularity.
