New Delhi: China & Taiwan ties are on the edge, a day after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei. The Asian giant has launched a major military exercise in regions around the island nation.
According to foreign media reports, the Chinese military choppers were seen flying past Pingtan island, a region in Fujian province close to Taiwan.
Chinese forces have also deployed 2 aircraft carriers in north and south of Taiwan.
China has imposed strong economic sanctions on Taiwan, for rolling out red carpet for US Speaker and reports suggest that its naval fleets are now attempting to block the Taiwan Strait to mount more economic pressure.
US has already stepped up its vigil in and around Taiwan. During Nancy Pelosi’s visit, at least 4 US warships were deployed in east of Taiwan.
As of now, the island nation, located about 100 miles from the coast of China, Taiwan remains encircled by US and Chinese warships.
Yesterday, the Chinese military choppers breached into Taiwan’s air defence zone.
VIDEO: Chinese military helicopters fly past Pingtan island, one of mainland China’s closest points to Taiwan, in Fujian province on Thursday.
China has begun massive military drills off Taiwan following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-ruled island pic.twitter.com/7czzPNQbNp
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 4, 2022
Citing Taiwan’s version, the AFP reported that the island nation was keeping a close watch on China’s ‘misadventures’ and it was also prepared for it.
The controversy erupted after US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan on Tuesday, despite string of warnings issues by mainland China. Pelosi, a known critic of China, became one of the highest-profile dignitary to visit Taiwan in 254 years. However, China saw it as a major provocation and warned that this was taking the region on tenterhooks.
China maintains that Taiwan is its territory despite the fact that the latter remains self-ruled & democratic nation. It has long advocated for Taiwan’s assimilation in the mainland China & often discouraged other countries from having official exchanges with it.
