China ends military drills around Taiwan
China has declared conclusion of its military drills around Taiwan, deescalating tension in the regions after the visit of top US Congress official, Ms Nancy Pelosi who defied warnings from the Beijing against according the semi-autonomous neighbor a sovereign recognition.
The sudden conclusion of the weeklong military exercise which mirrored Russia’s early preparation for invasion of Ukraine coincided with response by Taiwan which scurried equipment to activate urgent military drills in protest to invasion of its airspace by Chinese fighter jets.
Taiwan has accused China of using the drills as practice for an invasion.
As Taiwan which has solid defence assurances from the United States activated it military drills, China declared same day that its sea and air operations were successful.
China had Warned US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi against visiting Taiwan, a significant state visit criticized by China as pulling at its claims of territorial sovereignty over the Island city state which claims independence from China.
Ms Pelosi’s brief trip incensed Beijing, which views Taiwan as a breakaway province to be reunited with the mainland – by force if necessary.
House Speaker Pelosi, the highest-ranking US official to land in Taiwan since the 1990s, defied China’s warnings not to visit. President Joe Biden had also called for caution on the Taiwan visit but the US military rose to duty and assured Pelosi of protection if she wanted to stop in Taiwan without saying hello to Beijing.
Pelosi’s visit inferred recognition of Taiwanese sovereignty, and China perceives it as violation of its scope of influence. Taiwan’s government rejects Chinese claims of sovereignty and sees itself as distinct from the mainland and Beijing seeks to isolate the island internationally and as a self ruling Chinese province.
While in Taiwan, Pelosi had touched on US’s preparedness to assist Taiwan defend itself should it come under attack from China.
China which currently maintains global influence and economic rivalry as well as fragile diplomatic relationship with the United States launched military drills that involved anti-submarine attacks and sea raid rehearsals as part of its show of power. And Taiwan ignored the drills which violated its airspace until Pelosi left. US naval armada waited patiently and silently at sea as Pelosi toured Asia.
However, while China said it ended the military drills, it also vowed to keep patrolling the Taiwan Strait.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army statement promised to keep conducting “regular combat readiness patrols” in the Taiwan Strait. China’s Taiwan Affairs office refused to rule out the use of force to retake the island.
“We will only be forced to take drastic measures to respond to the provocation of separatist elements or external forces should they ever cross our red lines,” said it first white paper on Taiwan in more than 20 years.
The policy document omitted a past promise not to send troops or administrators to Taiwan if it’s taken back – a sign that Beijing intends less autonomy for the island than previously promised.
Taiwan’s defence ministry said 36 Chinese military aircraft and 10 ships were still operating around the strait on Wednesday.
Polls in Taiwan which practices democracy and press freedom showed that majority of people oppose any sort of unification with Communist-ruled China.
The island state has its own constitution, democratically elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces.
However, China with one of the world’s largest markets and biggest economies continues to overshadow Taiwan in the international diplomatic circles. Only a few countries recognize Taiwan. Even the US has no official ties with Taiwan but does have a law which requires it to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
