China is intensifying military exercises around Taiwan

China’s anger is growing as a result, with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen visiting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday. On Friday, China had already imposed sanctions on two US organizations that hosted Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during her visit to the US.

On Saturday morning, less than 24 hours after Ing returned home, China’s People’s Liberation Army announced that it would conduct military exercises “as planned” in the Taiwan Strait and in the north, south and east of the island from April 8 to 10.

On Saturday morning, Taiwan’s defense minister announced that 42 PLA warplanes and eight warships had been spotted in Taiwan’s air defense zone: 29 of the planes had actually crossed Taiwan’s border in the Taiwan Strait — the sea that separates Taiwan from China. That figure was adjusted again in the late afternoon: by 4 p.m. local time, 71 Chinese aircraft and nine ships had already been spotted in Taiwan territory.

China has been sending warships and aircraft to Taiwan for military training for years. Chinese fighter jets are increasingly crossing the demarcation line in the Taiwan Strait. That intermediate line has long been accepted by both countries as the official border between China and Taiwan. 29 flights crossing the border at the same time has already been labeled as ‘more than average’.

Last August, Democrat Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan as the first speaker of the US House of Representatives in 25 years. The People’s Army immediately launched missile tests and enforced a blockade of the island. So far, China has not announced any missile drills in the area.

Territorial Claim

According to Taiwan’s defense minister, Taiwan will respond “calmly, rationally and diligently” to Chinese provocations. Taiwan has no intention of ‘increasing conflict’ or ‘inciting conflict’. In recent years, China has continued to harass the region by sending planes and ships. Now China is using Sai’s visit to the US as an excuse to hold military exercises. By doing so, the Republic endangers regional peace, stability and security.’

“Any countermeasures taken by China are legitimate and legal,” the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party read on Saturday morning. They must protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Taiwan’s President Tsai has already rejected those demands. She had already offered to sit around the table several times. China has always rejected those proposals because the country sees her as a separatist. This Saturday, Tsai will meet with a group of US Congressmen.

Democratic Taiwan was never part of the People’s Republic. However, China considers the island part of its territory. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there is great concern in the West that China may also use military force in its territorial claims on Taiwan.

European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen is visiting China this week. He has already stressed the importance of stability in the Taiwan Strait. Chinese President Xi Jinping has labeled the idea that China might one day reconcile with Taiwan as wishful thinking.