China Stages More ‘Combat Drills’ Near Taiwan During US Lawmakers’ Visit

The Chinese regime staged more military drills around Taiwan on Aug. 15, as a group of U.S. lawmakers met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.The five-member U.S. congressional delegation, led by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), arrived in Taipei late on Aug. 14. Their unannounced two-day trip came on the heels of a similar visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), which drew the wrath of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Chinese military organized “multi-service joint combat readiness patrols” and “actual combat drills” in the sea and air spaces near Taiwan, Wu Qian, spokesperson of the Chinese Defense Ministry said in an Aug. 15 statement. The new drills were a “resolute response and solemn deterrence to U.S.–Taiwan collusion,” Wu said. “The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to train and prepare for war.” The communist regime in Beijing views the self-ruled island as its territory, to be taken by force if necessary. It’s also against any official exchanges between Taiwan and other governments around the world that might suggest its status as a de facto island-state. The latest announcement comes after the CCP drew international condemnation for using Pelosi’s visit earlier in August as a pretext to launch a series of escalated military operations. These drills included live-fire military exercises and sending several ballistic missiles flying over Taiwan. As of 5 p.m. local time on Aug. 15, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported five Chinese military warships and 30 aircraft in and around the Taiwan Strait. We condemn PLA for jeopardizing the peace and security of our surrounding region with announcements of military drills. #ROCArmedForces monitor activities around our surrounding region and respond to every situation with professionalism to #ProtectOurCountry. — 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C.

China Stages More ‘Combat Drills’ Near Taiwan During US Lawmakers’ Visit

The Chinese regime staged more military drills around Taiwan on Aug. 15, as a group of U.S. lawmakers met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

The five-member U.S. congressional delegation, led by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), arrived in Taipei late on Aug. 14. Their unannounced two-day trip came on the heels of a similar visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), which drew the wrath of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The Chinese military organized “multi-service joint combat readiness patrols” and “actual combat drills” in the sea and air spaces near Taiwan, Wu Qian, spokesperson of the Chinese Defense Ministry said in an Aug. 15 statement.

The new drills were a “resolute response and solemn deterrence to U.S.–Taiwan collusion,” Wu said. “The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to train and prepare for war.”

The communist regime in Beijing views the self-ruled island as its territory, to be taken by force if necessary. It’s also against any official exchanges between Taiwan and other governments around the world that might suggest its status as a de facto island-state.

The latest announcement comes after the CCP drew international condemnation for using Pelosi’s visit earlier in August as a pretext to launch a series of escalated military operations. These drills included live-fire military exercises and sending several ballistic missiles flying over Taiwan.

As of 5 p.m. local time on Aug. 15, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported five Chinese military warships and 30 aircraft in and around the Taiwan Strait.