
As Taiwan's president met with a new U.S. congressional delegation on Monday, China announced more military drills around Taiwan, escalating tensions just days after Nancy Pelosi angered China with a similar visit.
In nearly two weeks, China, which claims Taiwan as its own, conducted threatening military exercises against Pelosi, the highest ranking U.S. government official to visit Taiwan in 25 years.
These previous drills involved Beijing firing missiles over the island and into the Taiwan Strait and sending warplanes and navy ships across the midline of the waterway, which has long been a buffer between the sides that split during the 1949 civil war.
According to China, U.S. weapons sales and engagement between U.S. politicians and the island's government encourage the island's independence. As far as Washington is concerned, the island should be able to defend itself against any attack, even though it does not support independence, has no formal diplomatic ties with the island nor has any formal diplomatic relations with it.
In a statement earlier, the Defense Ministry said the new exercises would be a resolute response and solemn deterrent against collusion and provocation between the U.S. and Taiwan.
15 August 2022
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