Beijing had actually announced that it wanted to end the exercises that began after the visit of US top politician Nancy Pelosi to Taipei on Sunday. But now the maneuver was continued on Monday. The focus is “on organizing joint anti-submarine and naval attack operations,” the Chinese army said. She also announced target practice in the South China Sea and the Yellow Sea.
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry described the ongoing maneuvers as “steadfast and forceful” behavior and an “appropriate” response to the US “provocation” – that is, last week’s visit by Pelosi. China will resolutely shatter the “illusion of the Taiwanese authorities that they can gain independence thanks to the United States”.
According to Taiwan, 39 Chinese fighter jets and 13 ships were operating in the Taiwan Strait as of Monday. 21 planes would have crossed the unofficial demarcation line between China and Taiwan, which Beijing does not recognize.
US President Biden criticized the continuation of the maneuvers. “I’m not scared, but I’m worried they’ll go that far,” he said while visiting an air force base in Delaware, USA. “But I don’t think they’re going any further.”
For its part, Taiwan’s foreign ministry said, “China’s provocations and aggression have disrupted the status quo in the Taiwan Straits and increased tensions in the region.” Taiwan itself had announced drills by its land forces for this week. According to the military, these will be held on Tuesday and Thursday in Pingtung, the island’s southernmost county.
The Taiwanese army will “practice countermeasures against simulated enemy attacks on Taiwan,” a spokesman for the armed forces told AFP. Hundreds of soldiers and around 40 howitzers would be used. The exercises had been planned for a long time and were not a reaction to China’s maneuvers.
Taiwan regularly holds maneuvers simulating a Chinese invasion. In July, the Taiwanese military practiced countering attacks from the sea in a “joint intercept operation” as part of its largest annual drill.
Chinese army drills off Taiwan had begun after Pelosi left the island nation. Beijing deployed fighter jets, warships, drones and ballistic missiles. According to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, ballistic missiles also flew over Taiwan for the first time. In response to Pelosi’s visit, Beijing also announced that it would put cooperation with Washington on hold on climate protection and defense issues, among other things.
Since the split between China and Taiwan in 1949, Beijing has viewed the island as a breakaway territory that it wants to reunite with the mainland – if necessary, using military force. The conflict between Beijing and Taipei had recently intensified under Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has also fueled fears that Beijing could use a similar approach when dealing with Taiwan.
