Against the background of massive tensions between China on the one hand and Taiwan and the USA on the other hand, military exercises by the Chinese army are increasing nervousness.
As the state broadcaster CCTV reported on Sunday, the People’s Liberation Army has simulated several precision strikes against “important targets on the island of Taiwan and in the surrounding sea areas”. China claims the island as its own territory and has so far not ruled out the use of military force to implement this claim.
China’s army maneuvers had already begun on Saturday. As of Sunday noon (local time), Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has already registered 58 warplanes and nine ships belonging to the Chinese military. Of these, 31 aircraft penetrated Taiwan’s southwestern air defense zone (“Air Defense Identification Zone”) – a buffer zone between the island state and China.
Taiwan does not want the conflict to escalate
The People’s Republic has increased military pressure on Taiwan over the past three years. So far, however, Chinese warplanes have repeatedly flown around the island, but have not penetrated its airspace. Taiwan’s defense ministry said its armed forces would respond appropriately to China’s military maneuvers and not escalate conflicts or cause disputes.
The US representation in Taiwan announced on Sunday that they were closely monitoring China’s maneuvers around the island. However, Americans believe they have sufficient resources and capabilities in the region to ensure peace and stability. Channels of communication between the US and China remained open, and the US had repeatedly called for restraint and not to change the status quo.
On Wednesday (local time), Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen met the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, for talks during a transit stay in the United States. She also received a delegation of US lawmakers in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, on Saturday. McCarthy’s predecessor Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan in August last year led to a serious crisis between China and the United States.
The status of democratically governed Taiwan, which few countries recognize as independent, is one of the main points of contention between the US and China. Like many other countries, the USA does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan out of consideration for the People’s Republic of China; they severed them in favor of China in 1979. However, Washington supports the country with military equipment.