China Conducts Military Drills Surrounding Taiwan in Response to Tsai Ing-wen-McCarthy Meeting

Military Exercises Conducted Around Taiwan from the 8th to the 10th

China will begin a three-day military exercise in the Taiwan Strait. This is a retaliatory measure in response to the meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

On the 8th, Su Yi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, stated, "The Eastern Theater Command will organize combat readiness patrols and a 'Sharp Sword joint exercise' surrounding Taiwan Island in the Taiwan Strait and the northern, southern, and eastern maritime and air areas of Taiwan Island as planned until the 10th."

Spokesperson Su explained, "This is a stern warning against the collusion and provocations of 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces and external forces, as well as a necessary action to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

On the 7th, the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration of China issued a statement announcing live-fire exercises in the Taiwan Strait off Pingtan County from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time on the 10th. It is considered likely to be part of this exercise. Pingtan is located 126 km from Hsinchu County in northern Taiwan.

In response, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense identified 13 Chinese military aircraft and 3 warships around Taiwan between 6 a.m. on the 7th and 6 a.m. on the 8th local time. Among them, 4 military aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait.

China's current exercise is interpreted as a retaliatory measure against the meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. They met on the 5th (local time) at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, marking the first time a sitting Taiwan president met with the U.S. House Speaker on the U.S. mainland.

Five Chinese agencies, including the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced on the 6th, immediately after the Tsai-McCarthy meeting, that they would take "resolute and strong measures." On the 7th, sanctions were announced against the Reagan Library and the Hudson Institute.

When then U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August last year, China also set up training zones surrounding Taiwan and conducted high-intensity military demonstrations, including missile launches.

Regarding China's announcement of the exercises, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense stated, "We will respond calmly and rationally with a prudent attitude, without escalating clashes or provoking conflicts."

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