Surprisingly, China continued its maneuvers around Taiwan today. Despite his initial announcement that the military drills would only last until Sunday, the “combat drills” in the air and sea of the Taiwan Strait Strait continued, state television reported. The People’s Liberation Army focused on “joint operations against submarines and attacks at sea”.
When the maneuvers were announced last Tuesday, the Chinese leadership had originally promised a conclusion for yesterday. So far, however, no formal end has been announced. Rather, some Chinese commentators have suggested that the military exercises are taking place regularly and could become a new normal.
“Necessary Warning”
Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian today called the maneuvers a “necessary warning” to the US and Taiwan. It was an “appropriate” response to their “provocations”. The tensions were “deliberately” created by the United States, with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveling to Taipei against opposition from Beijing.
The Chinese leadership rejects such official contacts from other countries to Taipei because it only sees the island as part of the People’s Republic. On the other hand, Taiwan has long seen itself as independent. With the maneuvers, the People’s Liberation Army practiced not only a sea and air blockade, but also a possible conquest of the island.