Tensions are high as China and Taiwan conduct military drills that began after Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei last week.
Taiwan’s foreign minister, Joseph Wu, said on August 9 that Beijing was surrounding the island with naval and air exercises in contemplation of an invasion and as a means of rebalancing power in the Asia-Pacific.
Taiwan’s military performed live-fire artillery training depicting an island nation’s defence against an assault after days of intense Chinese war drills.
China started its largest-ever air and naval operations near Taiwan this week in retaliation to a trip by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, one of the most prominent US officials to visit the self-governed island in decades.
China views its neighbour Taiwan, as a portion of its property that should someday be taken by force, and this has always been a threat to Taiwan, which always fears invasion.
“China has used the drills and its military playbook to prepare for the invasion of Taiwan,” said Joseph Wu. “China’s real intention is to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and entire region.”
“It’s conducting large-scale military exercises, missile launches as well as cyber-attacks, a disinformation campaign and economic coercion in an attempt to weaken public morale in Taiwan,” Wu added.
In his first public remarks on the subject since Pelosi’s visit, U.S. President Joe Biden stated on Monday that he was alarmed about China’s moves in the area, however, he was not concerned about Taiwan.
According to a senior Pentagon official, Washington was maintaining its earlier prediction that Beijing would not attempt to invade Taiwan in the ensuing two years.
Although there are numerous arguments that US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan is what led to China’s attacks on the island nation, China’s stance has always been abundantly clear. Pelosi’s visit only triggered the existing territorial claim China seems to possess over Taiwan.
This planned practice for an upcoming invasion had continued as of Monday morning with no sign of ceasing. On Friday, China also made the announcement that it was postponing cooperative talks on a number of issues, including illegal immigration, drugs, and climate change, as well as discontinuing significant military consultation meetings with the United States.
By claiming authority over the waterway that connects the Yellow Sea to the South China Sea and is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, Beijing hopes to restrict the freedom of transit for members of the global community.
Tuesday saw the start of live-fire training operations by the Taiwanese military in Pingtung province, in the south of the main island. The exercises are meant to mimic defence measures against an island attack.
According to a representative for the Taiwanese military, the manoeuvres were already arranged. Around this time of year, Taiwan traditionally conducts annual military exercises.
Major cities performed extensive military drills on land and at sea, including air attack drills for all people, the week before Pelosi’s visit.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia this year has disrupted the world’s energy markets and led to food scarcity in certain regions. As energy prices rise and trigger a recession in Europe, the disruptions could become more severe over the winter, damaging the economy of the US and many other countries.
There is still a chance for a wider and more deadly confrontation.
It would be a vastly worse war if China also got involved in an invasion. China’s invasion will likely cause more conflict than any military since World War II. It would harm the global financial system and markets.
China’s formidable manufacturing sector is closely tied to economies around the world, including those in the USA and Europe, unlike Russia or Ukraine. Some of the world’s busiest shipping lanes are found in the waters off China and Taiwan.
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