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China Continues Punishing Taiwan Over Pelosi Visit
Following Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, China has made good on some of its threats against Taipei by firing a number of missiles towards the area around the island on Thursday, causing delays in both air and sea travel.
Artillery launched from Pingtan Island, Fujian, less than 80 miles from Taiwan. A small show of strength in the massive military offensive China launched today that has Taiwan surrounded by warships, tracking fighter jets and monitoring for missile launches. pic.twitter.com/3KKiWiT5yK
— Debi Edward (@debiedwarditv) August 4, 2022
The four-day drills, which involved firing over a dozen missiles, are occurring in six areas that the Chinese military has designated. A few are adjacent to Taiwan’s claimed territorial seas and the largest commercial ports on the island.
China’s irresponsible and dangerous behavior has jeopardized regional peace. Taiwan will resolutely defend ourselves. https://t.co/SuZzxQtUXh
— Bi-khim Hsiao 蕭美琴 (@bikhim) August 4, 2022
As certain ship and aviation traffic is advised to avoid Taiwan, the zones essentially form a temporary blockade around the island.
According to Major General Meng Xiangqing, a professor at the PLA National Defense University, who spoke to China’s state TV the morning of the drills, the targets are the closest to Taiwan’s main island that China’s military, the People’s Liberation Army, has ever set. Some of the approved live-fire zones are 12 miles or less from Taiwan’s shoreline in the seas.
#ROCArmedForces are resolved to uphold our sovereignty and guard our territory. We stand with vigilance tirelessly to #protectourcountry. We seek no escalation but devote ourselves to liberty, democracy and the stability and security of our surrounding region. pic.twitter.com/XYnhlT969P
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) August 4, 2022
On Thursday afternoon local time, 11 Dongfeng (DF) missiles were fired into the waters to the northeast and southwest of the island, according to Taiwan.
The live-fire drills were described as an unreasonable conduct that sought to alter the status quo by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry in a statement. “We are closely monitoring enemy activities around the sea of Taiwan and that of outlying islands, and we will act appropriately,” the statement said.
On Thursday afternoon local time, 11 Dongfeng (DF) missiles were fired into the waters to the northeast and southwest of the island, according to Taiwan.
The live-fire drills were described as an unreasonable conduct that sought to alter the status quo by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry in a statement. “We are closely monitoring enemy activities around the sea of Taiwan and that of outlying islands, and we will act appropriately,” the statement said.