China is anticipated on Thursday (Aug 4) to start its largest military exercises around Taiwan, in a show of pressure straddling some of the world’s busiest waterways, after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi frequented the island.
Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, exactly where she met Chief executive Tsai Ing-wen and pledged solidarity with all the island, drew China’s ire as it views Taiwan as its territory.
Contacting the visit a “provocation” by the US, Beijing vowed “punishment” plus announced military drills in the seas around Taiwan.
The exercises, set to begin at 12pm, will involve “training activities including live-fire drills”, and they will take place in multiple zones encompassing Taiwan – at some points within just 20km of the island’s shoreline.
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