China kicks off new military drills around Taiwan - What we know
Illustrative photo: Several types of troops are participating in the drills (Getty Images)
China has started conducting more military drills around Taiwan. This move comes after the United States promised to counter Beijing's aggression in the region, as the Senior Colonel Shi Yi of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) announced, according to Bloomberg.
According to Shi, on Tuesday, Chinese military forces began drills "from multiple directions." These exercises involve ground forces, naval, air, and missile units.
The maneuvers include training for “assault on maritime and ground targets” as well as the blockade of key areas and sea routes to assess the military’s ability to conduct joint operations.
Bloomberg reports that the latest Chinese drills near Taiwan appear to test the foreign policy of the Trump administration. Specifically, the US is focused on countering Beijing's ambitions in East Asia, while also pushing Europe to spend more on defense to fend off Russian attacks.
During recent trips to the Philippines and Japan, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegset promised to provide missile systems, troops, and other resources to counter China.
He also stated that Washington would ensure "credible deterrence" in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Taiwan Strait. Taipei welcomed this stance, with Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu expressing appreciation for the concerns shown by the US and Japan "over China's challenges to the global order."
The publication also reminded that China has conducted several rounds of such drills near Taiwan since President Lai Ching-te assumed office in Taipei almost a year ago. Beijing considers the island, home to around 23 million people, to be part of its territory that must eventually be brought under its control - by force if necessary.
Meanwhile, the US remains the primary guarantor of Taiwan’s security and is legally obligated to assist Taiwan in defending itself.
"In mid-March, China held drills around Taiwan that it linked to US moves backing the self-ruled archipelago and the actions of what it called independence forces - a reference to Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party," Bloomberg added.
