After Pelosis Arrival, China Announced Military Drills In Nearby Waters.
In a separate statement, the Chinese People's Liberation Army said it would begin a series of joint naval and air exercises Tuesday night in the waters and airspace north, southwest and southeast of Taiwan, according to a statement attributed to the colonel. Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command in China.
The exercise includes "long-range live ammunition in the Taiwan Strait" and "regular controlled fire tests from Taiwan in eastern waters," the statement said. Synchronization allows exercises to begin while House Speaker Pelosi is still in Taiwan.
In separate statements issued by China's foreign and defense ministries, the military operation is necessary to "resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Chinese state media maintained a steady rhythm of threatening messages. "People who play with fire will get burned," the official People's Daily wrote on social media on Tuesday, apparently echoing similar warnings issued by Chinese officials last year.
The Global Times, a Chinese nationalist newspaper, said in an editorial that "China's countermeasures will not be a one-off, but rather a combination of long-term, decisive and consistent measures."
Song Zhongping, an independent Chinese military analyst, said the two announcements related to a single exercise. He said preparations would begin on Tuesday but the actual fireworks display would take place from Thursday to Sunday.
"The People's Liberation Army's fight against Taiwan often escalates and increases the level of violence to counter the US government's provocations," he said, adding that the exercises, crossing the line dividing the waters between Taiwan and China, were divided and more. became more frequent.
The planned exercises may be China's most ambitious display of military power in the region since the 1995-96 Cross-Strait Crisis, when China launched missiles to intimidate the island and President Bill Clinton ordered aircraft carriers into the area. Analysts said the exercises would temporarily block access to some commercial shipping lanes and ports in Taiwan.
Again, the exercises appear to be largely a signaling exercise designed to project strength inside and out.
"They show we don't really like it and we want to see a little more," said Joe McCrinolds, a senior China analyst at the Center for Intelligence Research and Analysis in Washington. "You're not suggesting going to war anytime soon."
However, one concern is that the rapidly changing situation could lead to a confrontation by chance that could spiral out of control. It remains to be seen whether and how the United States and Taiwan will respond to China's actions. Taiwan's Defense Ministry said in a statement that it would "respond in an appropriate and timely manner" and accused China of "unilaterally disrupting regional peace and stability."
"The upcoming Chinese military exercises will put enormous pressure on the Taiwanese military," said Chieh Chung, a security analyst at the National Policy Foundation in Taipei. In the event of a minor accident, the low level of trust between the two sides of the strait and the lack of experience in crisis management are likely to increase tensions and lead to irreversible consequences.”
Joy Dong reported. Claire Vaux contributed to research.
Komentar
Posting Komentar