China Announces 'Encirclement Fire' Military Drills Around Taiwan... "This Is a Serious Warning"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] As Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, arrived in Taiwan, China announced large-scale military exercises employing encirclement tactics.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 3rd, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) plans to conduct military drills and live-fire exercises in designated training sea and air zones near Taiwan from the 4th to the 7th. The PLA announced that the "strong military response" it had warned about following Pelosi's arrival in Taiwan is now underway.

The military response will cover the northern, southwestern, and southeastern sea and airspace around Taiwan, and joint exercises involving the Chinese Navy and Air Force are expected.

The military stated it will conduct long-range live artillery firing in the Taiwan Strait and test launches of conventional missiles in the eastern sea area of the island. This is effectively an encirclement exercise, a highly unusual form of military drill.

Sui, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, emphasized, "This measure is a solemn deterrent against the recent escalation of problematic U.S. actions regarding the Taiwan issue and a serious warning to the Taiwan military pursuing independence."

Additionally, the PLA designated and announced six no-entry zones for civilian ships and aircraft around the island. These areas may host important military exercises including live-fire drills, and entry is prohibited for safety reasons.

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense also stated in a release that through the PLA's military exercises, it will "firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely block external interference and separatist attempts for Taiwan independence."

According to reports from Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) and others, Chinese Su-35 fighter jets and other aircraft were scrambled and crossed the Taiwan Strait as Pelosi's military plane approached Taipei Songshan Airport. However, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense denied the report, stating, "There is no truth to the claim that Su-35 fighters crossed the Taiwan Strait," and said it would deploy appropriate forces to respond to threats. The ministry also declared, "We have the determination, capability, and confidence to ensure national security."

Earlier, the military plane carrying Speaker Pelosi landed at Taipei Songshan Airport at 10:45 p.m. local time. This marks the first visit by the third-highest-ranking U.S. official in protocol to Taiwan in 25 years, since House Speaker Newt Gingrich's visit in 1997. Along with Pelosi's military plane, at least eight U.S. Air Force fighter jets, including F-15s, reportedly flew from Okinawa, Japan. As additional precautionary measures, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli capable of deploying F-35s, and escort vessels were deployed near the eastern sea area of Taiwan.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.