Taiwan

2022 - 8 - 2

Nancy Pelosi Nancy Pelosi

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Taiwan braces for Chinese show of force, with Pelosi set to visit (The Washington Post)

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The Chinese and Taiwanese militaries dispatched fighter jets, ordered military exercises and bolstered combat readiness as Taiwan prepared ...

“Tonight we call it fried chicken of democracy,” he said of his plan to hand out 100 portions. Lam said he was invited to attend an event Wednesday with the American Institute in Taiwan, the de facto U.S. Embassy, but was not told whether Pelosi would be there. “Pelosi’s visit now has a very different meaning,” said Chu Shulong, professor of political science and international relations at Tsinghua University, comparing Pelosi’s trip to Gingrich’s visit. “Taiwan will be the biggest winner. In the last Taiwan Strait crisis in 1995-1996, China sent missiles that landed near Taiwan. Pelosi would be the first House speaker to travel to Taiwan since Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) in 1997. “The United States should and must take full responsibility for this,” she said. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has pledged to “reunify” Taiwan with China by force if necessary. Chinese maritime authorities, meanwhile, announced additional military exercises in the South China Sea and live-fire drills in the Bohai Sea, near the Korean Peninsula, this week. China banned food shipments on Monday from more than 100 Taiwanese exporters. Taiwanese media outlets reported that Pelosi was expected to meet with President Tsai Ing-wen, lawmakers and human rights activists on Wednesday. The impending visit has drawn outrage from China, which for years has sought to diplomatically isolate Taiwan and views such exchanges with high-level foreign dignitaries as support for the island’s formal independence.

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Pelosi has landed in Taiwan. Here's why that's a big deal (NPR)

The island democracy governs itself, but China claims it as its territory. Rumors of Pelosi's visit launched a geopolitical firestorm amid escalating tensions ...

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Nancy Pelosi lands in Taiwan amid soaring tensions with China (The Guardian)

US politician's visit appears to prompt high levels of military movement among Chinese, Taiwanese and US militaries.

Pelosi is expected to stay in the Grand Hyatt hotel on the outskirts of Taipei city, before meeting Tsai on Wednesday morning. Taiwan officials would not comment on the highly anticipated visit before Pelosi’s arrival, other than to say it always welcomes the visits of foreign friends. Among the concerns about China’s reaction were fears it would send PLA aircraft to intercept or tail her plane into Taiwan’s airspace. On Tuesday afternoon, almost 300,000 people were tracking a US air force flight that was potentially carrying the speaker’s delegation. Some, including senior Taiwanese figures who spoke on condition of anonymity, expected any significant act to occur after Pelosi departed, to avoid a confrontation with US military assets. According to multiple social media posts it also drove dozens of tanks and other armoured vehicles through the Chinese mainland city of Xiamen, which is just three miles (5km) across the water from Taiwan’s outlying Kinmen Island.

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Nancy Pelosi arrives in Taiwan as China ratchets up military activity (Financial Times)

Beijing accuses House Speaker of stirring up trouble with highest-profile US visit in 25 years.

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Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan will not trigger World War III (Aljazeera.com)

No one knows for sure whether the speaker will meet with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen or any other top local official as other senior US officials did ...

With the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) 20th National Congress – which will mark a dramatic reshuffle of local leadership – just months away and the country facing a severe economic slowdown, Xi will likely shun a major military confrontation. To this end, Xi has made it clear that he will employ “all necessary means” to reincorporate Taiwan into China and safeguard his country’s territorial claims in the region. Pelosi’s expected visit to Taipei will mark the latest and most high-profile visit yet by a top American official. At this exact point, the US entered the picture by deploying the Seventh Fleet of the US Navy to the region in defence of KMT forces. The end of World War II saw the withdrawal of Japanese forces from Taiwan. But it was not the exit of Japanese forces but the civil war between communist and nationalist forces in mainland China that made Taiwan what it is today. The problem, however, is that even calibrated military manoeuvres could risk major incidents and spark unintended escalation between the protagonists. On Monday, China deployed several fighter jets into Taiwan’s airspace amid an uptick in the Asian power’s military drills in the area. On July 25, China’s foreign ministry warned that a potential visit by Pelosi would result in “serious consequences” for which the US would need to assume full responsibility. After a series of major defeats at the hand of Maoist forces, the Kuomintang (KMT), led by Chiang Kai-shek, retreated to the island. Recent reports suggest that Pelosi will visit Taiwan before heading to Northeast Asia, but the duration and nature of her visit are still a mystery. This time, Pelosi will be visiting the island amid an ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has drawn many ominous comparisons with the situation in Taiwan. After all, China considers the self-ruling island a “renegade province” that should eventually be fully reintegrated into the mainland.

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Nancy Pelosi's looming visit to Taiwan is dragging the island's stock ... (Business Insider South Africa)

With US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expected to visit Taiwan, stocks on the island dropped on Tuesday. The benchmark Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index ...

On Monday, the Taiwan dollar weakened on prospects of Pelosi's visit, too. If geopolitical tensions escalate as Pelosi's trip takes place, more downward pressure could hit local stocks, which have already taken a beating through 2022. The Taiwan Stock Exchange Weighted Index slipped as much as 2.1%, and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing dropped as much as 3.1% before paring losses to 2.38%.

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White House struggles to insulate Biden's China policy from Pelosi's ... (CNBC)

The Biden White House has tried for weeks to convince Beijing and the world that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's expected visit to Taiwan says nothing about ...

Shortly afterward, Reuters reported that several Chinese warplanes had flown close to the median line of the Taiwan Strait. Any trip by Pelosi "will greatly threaten peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, severely undermine China-US relations and lead to a very serious situation and grave consequences," senior Chinese diplomat Liu Xiaoming tweeted late Monday night. But I don't know what the status of it is." Now, experts say it's becoming clear that this effort missed the point. It's not new. To foreign policy experts, the White House's effort to convince Beijing that it must distinguish between the behavior of the top Democrat in Congress and the intent of the Democratic administration is a futile one. "I think we've laid out very clearly that if she goes — if she goes — it's not without precedent. The fact that U.S. policy toward Taiwan is deliberately ambiguous only serves to make it that much more difficult to draw any meaningful distinction between what Pelosi is doing and what the White House is saying. Given that Pelosi is traveling aboard a U.S. military aircraft for the entirety of her trip to Asia this week, the quickly escalating military tensions between China and Taiwan carry especially high risks. - The fact that U.S. policy toward Taiwan is deliberately ambiguous has only made it more difficult for the White House to draw a distinction between what Pelosi is doing and what Biden is saying. WASHINGTON — As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly prepares to land in Taiwan on Tuesday evening for a long-rumored official visit, her trip has exposed a rare schism between the Biden White House and the most powerful Democrat in Congress. - The Biden White House has tried for weeks to convince Beijing and the world that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's expected visit to Taiwan says nothing about U.S. policy toward China or Taiwan.

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China-U.S. Tensions Escalate Over Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan Visit ... (The Wall Street Journal)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, second in line to the presidency, is making the highest-level trip in 25 years by a U.S. government official to Taiwan, ...

Mrs. Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan would heighten geopolitical tensions, presenting another risk for global investors, warned OCBC Research in a note this week.

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Russia accuses US of 'destabilisation' over Pelosi Taiwan trip (Aljazeera.com)

The likely imminent visit by the US House speaker to the self-ruled island claimed by China has drawn Beijing's ire.

Washington does not have official diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is bound by US law to provide the island with the means to defend itself. Beijing views visits by US officials to Taiwan as sending an encouraging signal to the pro-independence camp on the island. The likely imminent visit by the US House speaker to the self-ruled island claimed by China has drawn Beijing’s ire.

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Pelosi's expected Taiwan visit risks creating greater instability ... (CNN)

Neither the United States nor China has overt interests in their budding superpower rivalry boiling over into open military clashes despite soaring tensions ...

The assumption in Washington is that Xi has no more interest in a direct military showdown than Biden does. Some analysts say such a shift could not only risk dragging the United States into a war in the Pacific against China that Americans are not prepared for, but that it could also make Beijing even more aggressive. And there is a strongly nationalist streak within the Chinese military along with growing confidence about its capacity. The United States recognizes the People's Republic of China on the mainland as the sole legitimate government of China and doesn't regard Taiwan as a country. Biden has reorganized US foreign policy around the principle of countering China's growing might in Asia and further afield. Thirty years ago, Washington hoped that by encouraging then-reclusive China into the global economy it could promote political liberalization and usher it into the Western-oriented global economic and political system. And his government's questionable handling of the Covid-19 pandemic -- mass lockdowns are still common in Chinese cities -- and a slowing economy, mean Xi could be tempted into a nationalistic stand to mask domestic liabilities. The island is viewed by Beijing as a rightful part of its territory. Pelosi is also a symbol of democracy -- a way of life that Taipei is desperate to preserve under China's authoritarian shadow. Xi built his power base on aggressive nationalism and the idea that Taiwan's destiny is "reunification" with the mainland. Most of its options -- following a barrage of threats and propaganda that have raised expectations for its riposte -- are quite alarming. It would be unpalatable for Pelosi, following a political career partly defined by standing up to China, to give up on her plan.

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Gold Price Rally Bumping Into Resistance, Taiwan Tensions Escalate (DailyFX)

Prior support levels now turn into resistance levels. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to visit Taiwan. Retail traders trim their overall long positions.

Retail trader data show84.40% of traders are net-long with the ratio of traders long to short at 5.41 to 1. Recent changes in sentiment warn that the current Gold price trend may soon reverse higher despite the fact traders remain net-long. Yet traders are less net-long than yesterday and compared with last week. The precious metal is now running into a zone of prior support turned resistance on either side of $1,787/oz, while the 50-day sma is a touch lower at $1,783.5/oz. For gold to overcome this area of resistance, it will require a notable driver of risk. The rally has produced a near-unbroken series of higher highs and higher lows and has taken out the 20-day simple moving average in the process. In response to stories of Ms. Pelosi’s visit, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson warned of the ‘serious consequences’ of any visit, adding ominously that China ‘are fully prepared for any eventuality’. If Ms. Pelosi visits Taiwan and China retaliates, as it has openly said that it would, then risk-off assets including gold will receive a strong haven bid.

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How a Taiwanese electric two-wheeler startup made its electric ... (Restofworld.org)

Taiwan is “like nowhere else in the world” for tech entrepreneurs, says Gogoro founder Horace Luke.

Through our Powered By Gogoro Network program, we enable our vehicle maker partners to design their own two- and three-wheel vehicles that integrate with Gogoro battery swapping. Our experience in Taiwan demonstrated how a battery swapping ecosystem can work at scale. When Gogoro first began, we didn’t anticipate becoming a vehicle maker, we [were] focused on creating a battery swapping system that could work with existing vehicle makers. Battery swapping as a subscription service removes the cost of the battery – which can be 30% of the total cost of an electric vehicle – from what the customer pays. First, the supply chain is like nowhere else in the world and provides access to all our R&D and manufacturing needs. Battery swapping was the solution, so we created the Gogoro Network.

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Pelosi visit is a test for Taiwan's global status under Chinese pressure (The Washington Post)

TAIPEI, Taiwan — For Taiwan, a successful visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this week is about more than avoiding an immediate crisis in the Taiwan Strait ...

According to Taiwanese survey data, only 35 of those polled in March were confident that the United States would intervene, down from 65 percent in November. For Tsai and many others within her Democratic Progressive Party, raising Taiwan’s international status is not, as Beijing charges, a change in the status quo. Chinese President Xi Jinping “faces a dilemma to optimize the robustness of China’s response to Pelosi’s visit,” Sung said. Taiwanese analysts expect that China will go beyond large-scale military drills and adopt various forms of economic coercion to punish Taiwan for the visit. Chinese scholars claim these represent a change in the United States’ one China policy, which neither challenges nor endorses Beijing’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan. Pelosi (D-Calif.) is expected to land Tuesday night local time and meet with President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday.

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China sends warships to surround Taiwan amid Pelosi visit (Politico)

The Pentagon has deployed four U.S. warships, including an aircraft carrier, in waters east of Taiwan.

The White House said Monday that it has no interest in escalating tensions with China and that it “will not take the bait or engage in saber rattling.” She also opposed China’s bid to host the 2008 Olympics and supported the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. What we have said is that there is no reason that this visit should escalate tensions in any way whatsoever,” National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning. Pelosi’s arrival in Taipei on Tuesday evening confirmed the speaker’s decision to go ahead with her visit — which had been reported on for weeks without official confirmation from her office — despite China’s threats. Local newspapers first reported that Pelosi would arrive in Taiwan Tuesday night and that she would spend the night there. The carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, is positioned far from Taiwan, according to one U.S. official. Experts raised alarms over the exercise, with some noting that the drills would overlap with Taiwan’s territorial waters. The House speaker said in her Tuesday statement that the delegation’s discussions with Taiwan’s leaders “will focus on our support for our partner and on promoting our shared interests, including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.” She also asserted that the visit “in no way contradicts longstanding United States policy.” In a Washington Post op-ed published just after her arrival in Taiwan, Pelosi wrote that the U.S. must stand by its vow in the Taiwan Relations Act — signed into law by President Jimmy Carter — to support the self-defense of Taiwan. She said the island republic is “under threat” by Beijing and that China has “dramatically intensified tensions with Taiwan” in recent years by ramping up military patrols and launching cyberattacks on Taiwanese government agencies. “We don’t support Taiwan independence, but we absolutely do support the right and the prerogative of congressional leaders to include Speaker Pelosi to visit Taiwan if that’s what she wants to do,” Kirby said on CNN after Pelosi touched down in Taiwan on Tuesday. Biden administration officials have also emphasized in recent days that the United States official position on Taiwan remains unchanged and that Pelosi would be one of many members of Congress that have visited Taiwan over the past few years. The Pentagon earlier Tuesday deployed four U.S. warships, including an aircraft carrier, in waters east of Taiwan on what the U.S. Navy said were routine deployments.

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WATCH: Pelosi lands in Taiwan despite threats from China (Business Day)

US house speaker Nancy Pelosi has landed in Taiwan, in defiance of Chinese threats, making her the highest-ranking American politician to visit the island ...

Taiwan remains the most sensitive issue between the US and China, with the potential to one day spark a military conflict. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lands in Taiwan despite a warning from China, as tensions between the two superpowers continue to soar. While the White House has sought to dial back rising tensions with China, emphasising that Congress is an independent branch of government, Beijing has rejected that argument. Pelosi is the highest-ranking American politician to visit Taiwan since then-house speaker Newt Gingrich did so in 1997. Taiwan faced cyberattacks ahead of Pelosi’s arrival, with the presidential office saying it suffered a 20-minute barrage in the early evening hours that was 200 times worse than usual. China, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory, vowed an unspecified military response ahead of Pelosi’s visit that risks sparking a crisis between the world’s biggest economies.

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Pelosi In Taiwan As US-China Tensions Spike - The Friday Times ... (The Friday Times)

United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday despite objections from China which claims the self-ruled island.

Our visit is one of several Congressional delegations to Taiwan – and it in no way contradicts longstanding United States policy.” she said. She is expected to meet President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday morning. China had earlier warned the US of retaliation if Pelosi visited Taiwan saying its military would “never sit idly by”. “The US side will bear the responsibility and pay the price for undermining China’s sovereign security interests,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying had told journalists in Beijing.

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Taiwan: Nancy Pelosi trip labelled as 'extremely dangerous' by Beijing (BBC News)

The highest-ranking US politician to visit Taiwan in 25 years arrives despite warnings from China.

Yet she is also a long-standing critic of Beijing. This is absolutely consistent with it." is under threat". As Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Ms Pelosi is second in line for the US presidency after the vice-president. In her statement, Ms Pelosi said: "America's solidarity with the 23 million people of Taiwan is more important today than ever, as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy." It accused Ms Pelosi, the most senior US politician in 25 years to visit the island China claims as its own, of "playing with fire".

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What 3 past Taiwan Strait crises can teach us about U.S.-China ... (NPR)

Both the U.S. and China stepped up military activity in the region ahead of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit. Here's what is different now from ...

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Live updates: Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan as China says House speaker ... (The Washington Post)

TAIPEI, Taiwan — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is expected to meet Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and other lawmakers Wednesday, defying threats ...

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday at a meeting in Shanghai that U.S. politicians “playing with fire” on the issue of Taiwan would “come to no good end,” according to a transcript released by the Foreign Ministry. At the same time, we will not engage in saber-rattling.” China’s claims over Taiwan form a core part of the ideology of the ruling Communist Party. Beijing sees official visits by high-ranking foreigners as lending support to pro-independence camps and giving credence to the idea of Taiwan as a sovereign nation.

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Dow Falls 400 Points Amid U.S.-China Tensions After Pelosi's Visit ... (Forbes)

Stocks were under pressure after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the democratically governed island of Taiwan on Tuesday, a move which has led to rising ...

Stocks could rebound after Pelosi lands in Taiwan on Tuesday, JPMorgan analysts said in a note on Tuesday. “If there is no immediate reaction [from China], you may see markets move higher,” the firm predicts, noting that several other U.S. senators have visited Taiwan this year. Amid the added geopolitical uncertainty in markets, nervous investors also continued to assess second quarter earnings, with shares of Caterpillar falling 3% after the construction and manufacturing giant reported lackluster results. “Some of the Chinese response to those visits were military drills in the Taiwan Strait and military plane flyovers of Taiwan.” Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday evening local time to meet with government officials there, despite the Chinese government warning her not to do so and threatening “strong countermeasures.” Global markets also fell on Tuesday ahead of a planned visit to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), which is the first visit to the island by an official in her position since Newt Gingrich in 1997. Stocks were under pressure after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the democratically governed island of Taiwan on Tuesday, a move which has led to rising tensions with China and that has rattled investors concerned about additional geopolitical uncertainty in markets.

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China restricts trade with Taiwan amid tensions over Pelosi trip (Aljazeera.com)

China's Commerce Ministry said in a notice on Wednesday it had halted exports of sand, a key material used in construction, and suspended imports of Taiwanese ...

“However, that will hurt China itself, too, as so many Chinese firms rely on the semiconductors.” China’s foreign ministry has slammed the visit as “extremely dangerous” and accused the US side of “playing with fire”. China’s General Administration of Customs said the food imports were halted due to the presence of pesticide and the coronavirus in some shipments, while the Ministry of Commerce said it had suspended sand exports in line with unspecified legal provisions.

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Nancy Pelosi Arrives in Taiwan, Raising Tensions With China: Live ... (The New York Times)

The trip, the highest-level U.S. visit to the island since 1997, takes place in the face of serious objections from Beijing.

Before that meeting, Mr. Xi will be keen to project an image of strength at home and abroad, particularly on the question of Taiwan. And in the past year, Chinese military planes have increasingly probed the airspace near Taiwan, prompting Taiwanese fighter jets to scramble. The site was attacked around 5 p.m., according to the statement, several hours before Ms. Pelosi’s landing. “It provokes the situation, leads to more tensions.” In a statement released shortly after her arrival, Ms. Pelosi said the visit was a sign of America’s “unwavering commitment” to supporting Taiwan’s democracy. Its foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, told reporters, “Our position on the existence of only one China remains unchanged.” We are also committed now, more than ever, to all elements of the Taiwan Relations Act.” In recent years, China has lured away several nations that recognize Taiwan as a country and cut it off from major international agencies like the World Health Organization. She is also scheduled to attend a banquet at Taipei Guest House and visit the National Human Rights Museum. He said he was most worried about the military response from mainland China — in particular, what China might do after Ms. Pelosi leaves. In Taiwan, many are inured to threats from China, which claims the island as its own territory. A video provided by a Tibetan activist, Tashi Tsering, showed people on Tuesday night gathering outside the Grand Hyatt Taipei, where Ms. Pelosi was expected to spend the night.

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Pelosi praises Taiwan as 'one of the freest societies in the world' in ... (CNN)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised Taiwan as "one of the freest societies in the world" on Wednesday morning local time in her first public remarks since ...

"And again, we come in friendship, we thank you for your leadership, we want the world to recognize that." Pelosi and the congressional delegation landed in Taipei on Tuesday, the first time in 25 years that a US House Speaker has visited Taiwan, a self-governing island, which China claims as part of its territory. Later Wednesday, Pelosi is expected to meet Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen.

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US House Speaker Pelosi lands in Taiwan, defying Chinese warnings (Daily Maverick)

(Bloomberg) — US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi became the highest-ranking American politician to visit Taiwan in 25 years, prompting China to announce missile ...

Taiwan remains the most sensitive issue between the US and China, with the potential to one day spark a military conflict. While the White House has sought to dial back rising tensions with China, emphasising that Congress is an independent branch of government, Beijing has rejected that argument. Pelosi is the highest-ranking American politician to visit Taiwan since then House Speaker Newt Gingrich in 1997. Taiwan faced cyberattacks ahead of Pelosi’s arrival, with the presidential office saying it suffered a 20-minute barrage in the early evening hours that was 200 times worse than usual. While there are few signs China is planning a full-scale invasion of Taiwan, Beijing has responded to past visits by foreign officials with large sorties into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone or across the median line that divides the strait. She plans to hold a joint press briefing with President Tsai Ing-wen at 10.53am on Wednesday, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

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Taiwan fears PLA drills over Nancy Pelosi visit could amount to ... (Financial Times)

China's military exercises aim to express 'maximum displeasure' with US House Speaker's trip.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the U.S. will not abandon Taiwan ... (NPR)

TAIPEI, Taiwan — U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, meeting leaders in Taiwan despite warnings from China, said Wednesday that she and other members of ...

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China Warns Airlines to Avoid Areas Near Taiwan as Tensions Rise (Bloomberg)

China warned airlines operating in Asia to avoid flying in areas around Taiwan where it is conducting military exercises in response to US House Speaker ...

An official notice was sent late on Tuesday Hong Kong time, designating six areas of airspace as “danger zones,” according to carriers who received the message and Jang Chang Seog, a Korean transport ministry official. China warned airlines operating in Asia to avoid flying in areas around Taiwan where it is conducting military exercises in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island.

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Pelosi Lands in Taiwan, Voicing 'Solidarity' and Defying China (The San Francisco Standard)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday in a closely watched and hotly debated visit to the politically contested island.

Pelosi cited China’s ramp-up of military aircraft near Taiwan and cyberattacks on Taiwanese government agencies that she described as a possible precursor to an invasion of the island. We do always strive for a peaceful resolution, and hopefully that continues on with with more direct lines for conversation rather than threats,” said Tzou. Pelosi is the first high-ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan since then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich traveled there in 1997. A small group of counter-protesters accused the larger anti-war group of supporting China’s communist government. The U.S. has long acknowledged—but not endorsed—that policy. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, right, being welcomed by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, left, after landing at Songshan Airport in Taipei, Taiwan on August 2, 2022.

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China Hits Taiwan With Trade Curbs Amid Tensions Over Pelosi (Bloomberg)

Some fish, fruit imports suspended, sand exports banned · Bilateral 2021 trade between China, Taiwan at $328.3 billion.

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Nancy Pelosi vows US support for Taiwan as officials warn of China ... (Financial Times)

The comments from the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, made during a meeting with Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen, heartened Taiwanese hoping for ...

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China denounces Nancy Pelosi's high-level visit to Taiwan (Business Day)

While the US House speaker pledges solidarity to 'one of the freest societies in the world', China is planning military exercises in surrounding waters.

China views visits by US officials to Taiwan as sending an encouraging signal to the pro-independence camp on the island. The US has no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is bound by American law to provide it with the means to defend itself. Taiwan’s cabinet on Wednesday said the military has increased its alertness level. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has never renounced using force to bring it under its control. A live-tracker of her plane on China’s WeChat was watched by 22-million. But Pelosi’s visit comes amid sharply deteriorating China-US relations, and China has emerged as a far more powerful economic, military and geopolitical force during the past 25 years.

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Why Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan puts the White House in delicate ... (Mail and Guardian)

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on August 2 2022 – a highly controversial trip that has been strongly opposed by China.

As the government in Taiwan pursued democracy – starting from the lifting of martial law in 1987 through the first fully democratic elections in 1996 – it shifted away from the assumption once held by governments in both China and Taiwan of eventual reunification with the mainland. Then in 2020, Keith Krach, undersecretary for economic growth, energy and the environment, visited Taiwan. It also marks the continuation of a process that has seen growing US political engagement with Taiwan – much to China’s annoyance. Indeed, in 1995, when Lee Teng-hui, Taiwan’s first democratically elected president, touched down in Hawaii en route to Central America, he didn’t even set foot on the tarmac. The US State Department had already warned that the president would be refused an entry visa to the US, but had allowed for a brief, low-level reception in the airport lounge during refueling. And contact between the two governments was technically unofficial. Before the trip President Joe Biden said it was “not a good idea.” Meanwhile, the erosion of democracy in Hong Kong has undermined China’s commitment to the idea of “one nation, two systems.” The principle, which allowed Hong Kong to maintain its economic, political and social systems while returning to the mainland after the end of British rule, had been cited as a model for reunification with Taiwan. The Chinese Communist Party also plans to hold its 20th congress in the coming months, making the timing sensitive for a Taiwan visit from a high-profile U.S. political figure such as Pelosi. The comment echoes the White House’s earlier handling of a comment by Biden in which he suggested in May 2022 that the U.S. would intervene “militarily” should China invade Taiwan. Officials in the Biden administration rolled back the comment, which would have broken a long-standing policy of ambiguity over what the U.S. would do if China tried to take Taiwan by force. Similarly to the Pelosi visit, the one by Gingrich annoyed Beijing. But it was easier for the White House to distance itself from Gingrich – he was a Republican politician visiting Taiwan in his own capacity, and clearly not on behalf of then-President Bill Clinton. In 1979, the US abandoned its previous policy of recognizing the government of Taiwan as that of all of China, instead shifting recognition to the government on the mainland. The controversy over Pelosi’s visit stems from the “ one China” policy – the diplomatic stance under which the U.S. recognizes China and acknowledges Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China. The policy has governed US relations with Taiwan for the past 40-plus years.

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Nancy Pelosi pledges US solidarity with Taiwan amid alarm at ... (The Guardian)

The House speaker has vowed China will not stand in the way of Taiwan's friendships with the US as Beijing reacts to visit with outrage.

According to a tentative schedule Pelosi was also expected to visit the Jingmei Human Rights Cultural Park, in Taipei, after a lunch with Tsai and other dignitaries. Vice foreign minister Xie Feng voiced “strong protests” over Pelosi’s visit to the democratic self-governing island during his talk with ambassador Nicholas Burns. “Military exercises are unnecessary,” she said. At a press conference on Wednesday, Pelosi questioned the motivations of Chinese president Xi Jinping when asked about his strong response to her visit. It accused China of violating international law with its plans to breach Taiwan’s sovereign space. “I don’t know if that’s a reason or an excuse.”

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China will not stand in the way of people coming to Taiwan: US ... (Anadolu Agency)

President Tsai Ing-wen says Taiwan 'committed to maintaining status quo' across Taiwan Strait - Anadolu Agency.

I don’t know whether that’s a reason or an excuse, because they didn’t say anything when the men came.” In her discussions with the visiting American delegation, Tsai said she told Pelosi that Taiwan remains “committed to maintaining the status quo across the (Taiwan) Strait.” “I just hope that it’s really clear that while China has stood in the way of Taiwan participating and going to certain meetings, that they understand that they will not stand in the way of people coming to Taiwan,” Pelosi said at a joint news conference with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen.

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Image courtesy of "Business Insider South Africa"

Nancy Pelosi describes Taiwan as one of the 'freest societies in the ... (Business Insider South Africa)

During a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, Pelosi reaffirmed the US' commitment to Taiwan.

She also presented Pelosi with a medal — the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon — which the Speaker received on behalf of Congress. "The motherland must be unified, and it is bound to be unified. She also lauded Tsai, stating that "we are so proud of your leadership as a woman president of one of the freest societies in the world."

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Image courtesy of "CNN International"

Pelosi says US will 'not abandon' Taiwan as China plans military ... (CNN International)

During a historic trip to Taiwan Wednesday, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said her visit was intended to make it "unequivocally clear" that the United ...

"We want Taiwan to always have freedom with security and we're not backing away from that." "We will firmly uphold our nation's sovereignty and continue to hold the line of defense for democracy. More recently, she has voiced support for the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Video showed some people shouting, "Pelosi, get out" and holding placards reading, "Taiwan doesn't want war." However, its previous bans on some Taiwanese products have often coincided with periods of escalating tensions. Pelosi's trip -- the first by a sitting US speaker in 25 years -- had been foreshadowed for days.

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Image courtesy of "Politico"

Pelosi jabs at Xi before leaving Taiwan (Politico)

She waved off China's military action response to her visit, saying that “whatever China was going to do they'll do in their own good time.”

Because they didn’t say anything when the men came,” Pelosi said. A group of six U.S. lawmakers, including Senate Foreign Relations Chair Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), visited the island in April. China ramped up its actions and rhetoric once Pelosi arrived in Taipei on Tuesday, announcing it would conduct targeted drills and missile tests around Taiwan, and sending aircraft into the island’s air defense zone.

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Image courtesy of "Business Day"

Pelosi pledges solidarity with Taiwan as China fumes (Business Day)

US House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi left Taiwan on Wednesday after pledging solidarity and hailing its democracy, leaving a trail of Chinese ...

China views visits by US officials to Taiwan as sending an encouraging signal to the pro-independence camp on the island. The US has no official diplomatic relations with Taiwan but is bound by American law to provide it with the means to defend itself. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has never renounced using force to bring it under its control. But Pelosi’s visit comes amid sharply deteriorating Sino-US relations, and during the past 25 years China has emerged as a far more powerful economic, military and geopolitical force. Taiwan’s military increased its alertness level. Picture: TAIWAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS via REUTERS

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

China to begin series of unprecedented live-fire drills off Taiwan coast (The Guardian)

Island accuses Beijing of planning to breach sovereign territory in wake of controversial visit by Nancy Pelosi.

Japanese analysts said the northern drills were also a clear warning to their government about islands over which Tokyo and Beijing both claim ownership. But Uni-president, the parent company, told local media it suspected it had been hacked. There are also fears of an escalation in cyberwarfare and disinformation. But as the American left, Taiwan was facing days of military activity which threaten to escalate into a fourth Taiwan strait crisis. Taipei has remained defiant in its rhetoric. China is Taiwan’s largest trading partner.

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Image courtesy of "The Washington Post"

How Taiwan reacted to Pelosi's visit, from 'welcome' to 'American witch' (The Washington Post)

“The more unhappy the [Chinese Communist Party] is, the happier I am,” Ingrid Ho, 35, a Taipei resident, told The Washington Post on Wednesday. “Pelosi coming ...

“We expect that they will continue to react over a longer-term horizon,” he added. Zamake Chang, 30, an engineer from Taoyuan, said Wednesday that he spent the day looking at flights from Taiwan’s main airport to see whether any have been disrupted. On Thursday, China blacklisted two Taiwanese nonprofits affiliated with Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, a move that local reports say is a response to Pelosi’s visit. One held up a sign calling Pelosi an “American witch.” Pelosi has been a longtime critic of the Chinese Communist Party, winning her fans among those who support Taiwan’s independence. “Maybe it’s that Taiwanese people are used to being scared,” Ho said.

G7 Foreign Ministers' Statement on Preserving Peace and Stability ... (Department of State)

The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United ...

There is no change in the respective one China policies, where applicable, and basic positions on Taiwan of the G7 members. There is no justification to use a visit as pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait. It is normal and routine for legislators from our countries to travel internationally. We are concerned by recent and announced threatening actions by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), particularly live-fire exercises and economic coercion, which risk unnecessary escalation.

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Pelosi's Taiwan trip leaves Asian countries nervously awaiting ... (NPR)

When House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived late Tuesday night in Taiwan, its tallest building — iconic landmark Taipei 101 — lit up with words of welcome, ...

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Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

Pelosi Leaves Taiwan, but Tensions Rise in Her Wake (The New York Times)

Chinese military drills circling Taiwan set up a potential standoff. Through citrus, sand and fish, China sends an economic message to Taiwan. 'This is ...

Beijing had resisted his plan to visit the island directly after China, he said, so officials in Washington and Beijing “worked out a deal” in which he would first travel from China to Japan before heading to Taiwan. They portrayed Ms. Pelosi’s trip as part of a systematic effort by the United States to “use Taiwan to contain China” and sabotage Beijing’s efforts at unification with the island. “You have to stand up the Chinese communists or they will interpret it as a sign of weakness, and they’ll grow even more aggressive,” he said. North Korea called the trip “imprudent interference” and said it was “arousing serious concern of the international community,” according to Yonhap, the South Korean news agency. In Australia, the foreign minister, Penny Wong, urged “all parties” to de-escalate tensions and appeared to signal that China and the United States should try to calm things down. “Such a move, betting on and in contempt for the well-being of more than 20 million people in Taiwan, is extremely selfish.” It said Mr. Yang had long advocated Taiwan’s independence and sought to promote Taiwan as a country to join the United Nations. Ms. Hung had spent hours at the airport on Tuesday night, hoping to “see Pelosi with my own eyes,” and was now trying to catch a glimpse of her again — so far, in vain. “I believe this is the beginning of a changing U.S. policy toward China and Taiwan.” Biden administration officials have said Ms. Pelosi’s visit is not the first of its kind and does not mean a shift in policy over China and Taiwan. “In view of the brutal Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, it is important to make it clear that the international community does not accept such behavior.” “America’s determination to preserve democracy here in Taiwan and around the world remains ironclad.”

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Image courtesy of "Politico"

U.S. watches anxiously as China threatens missile launches near ... (Politico)

The Chinese navy is positioning warships around the island, including its two aircraft carriers that have left port in recent days, in what officials described ...

“They’re expanding their strategic nuclear capability and capacity, and long-range detection and targeting — the U.S. no longer has a monopoly on that.” Beijing warned commercial airlines to avoid wide swaths of airspace encircling Taiwan between Aug. 4 and 7 in what amounts to a no-fly zone over major commercial routes. John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, on Tuesday said the U.S. will not engage in “saber-rattling.” Four U.S. warships are already close by in the Pacific, including the aircraft carriers USS Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln, on what the Navy said were routine deployments. But this time, the drills are closer to Taiwan, and China’s naval might has grown significantly over the past 25 years. Taipei is trying to figure out how to reroute critical both ship and air traffic, as the closure zones are strategically positioned outside of Taiwan’s largest ports, forming a ring around the island. The tweets include the hashtag “FreeandOpenIndoPacific.” It remains unclear what role China’s two aircraft carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, might play in the exercises, but both ships have left their ports in recent days and are at sea. The Chinese defense ministry released a map of six zones surrounding the island where it plans to conduct the drills, some of which potentially overlap with Taiwan’s territorial waters. China has never before flown aircraft or launched missiles into Taiwan’s territorial waters — something that could happen during the drills, said Bonnie Glaser, an East Asia analyst at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. The Chinese navy is positioning warships around the island, including its two aircraft carriers that have left port in recent days, in what officials described as a blockade. But there are signs Beijing is planning more provocative military actions during the upcoming exercise.

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Image courtesy of "Grid News"

Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit is over. Now come the aftershocks ... (Grid News)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), left, poses with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen at the president's office on Wednesday in Taipei, Taiwan. Handout/Getty ...

And certainly, some people have pointed out that any amount of military intimidation is not good and becoming accustomed to living under that sword is not necessarily healthy for Taiwan in the long run. I think they think this is the U.S. using all its little levers to do sneaky things that add up to a policy of creeping support toward Taiwan, permanent separation from the mainland. I don’t think the Beijing government wants a war with anybody at this moment — for precisely the reasons that were laid out earlier in this conversation. And I just think there’s a lot of good reasons not to gratuitously undermine Taiwan’s security and the relationship between the PRC and the United States. I think that would be hard to believe for people from many political backgrounds in a parliamentary system; it’s inconceivable that there would be that kind of daylight between the executive and legislative functions in government; but from the PRC perspective, it’s just laughable. SR: Yes. And it doesn’t matter to China. And that I think is the most important thing. You can talk to people in the State Department, in the intelligence community, in the Defense Department who have a range of views about things, and it’s possible that they talk to people in Congress outside the chain of command, which would not be fantastic, but they probably do. But I think what the Beijing leadership was trying to do in the run-up to this visit was to prevent it. Now they have got to show that they really meant it, that this is not just posturing in the hope of maybe influencing something around the margins. I read something yesterday that I thought was really interesting, that this whole Taiwan brouhaha that has been front and center in the U.S. for several days has not really been front-page news in the PRC domestic media. If the Beijing leadership decided that this visit by Nancy Pelosi was a big step forward in that trend, they wanted to draw a line here. In the end, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan was brief — she spent 24 hours on the island — but it was historic and controversial, and its implications may be felt for a long time.

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Does Taiwan have its own airspace ? - CNN (CNN)

China is set to stage military drills around Taiwan from Thursday to Sunday to protest a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei.

This has happened on numerous occasions when Chinese warplanes have entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone in recent years. But what is "international law?" Consequently, not all countries have an air defense identification zone. "Under that principle, then perhaps we decide that international law applies, in which case Taiwan's airspace extends to 12 miles beyond its baseline. "The reality is Taiwan exists. So for all intents and purposes, Taiwan is a country," Thompson said.

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China-Taiwan tensions: how worried should we be about military ... (The Guardian)

China plans to escalate its military exercises near Taiwan, prompting fears of a fresh crisis in the region.

Yet some experts say Xi’s response to Pelosi’s visit is likely to be as much about domestic issues in China as it is about asserting power. Taiwan has never been part of the People’s Republic of China and says it is already a sovereign nation with no need to declare independence. There have been several crises in the Taiwan Strait, most recently in 1995. According to Justin Bassi, executive director for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, China’s military exercises will probably be calibrated to avoid escalation from the US. China flexed its military muscle with months of military drills, including firing missiles 35 miles from Taiwan’s ports. Ahead of the exercises, which are due to begin on Thursday, Taiwan said 27 Chinese warplanes had entered its air defence zone.

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Image courtesy of "Eyewitness News"

China to stage major drills around Taiwan after Pelosi visit (Eyewitness News)

Pelosi left Taiwan on Wednesday after a less than 24-hour visit that defied a series of increasingly stark threats from Beijing, which views the island as ...

(Taiwan's) territorial waters," defence ministry spokesman Sun Li-fang said at a press conference Wednesday. "China's announced military exercises represent a clear escalation from the existing baseline of Chinese military activities around Taiwan and from the last Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1995-1996," said Amanda Hsiao, senior analyst for China at the International Crisis Group. Beijing has defended the planned exercises -- and the drills that took place around Taiwan since late Tuesday -- as "necessary and just" and pinned the blame for the escalation squarely on the United States and its allies. The Group of Seven industrialised nations also condemned the planned drills, saying in a statement there was "no justification to use a visit as pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait". Her trip sparked a furious reaction from Beijing, which vowed "punishment" for those that had offended it and announced military drills in the seas around Taiwan -- some of the world's busiest waterways. Pelosi left Taiwan on Wednesday after a less than 24-hour visit that defied a series of increasingly stark threats from Beijing, which views the island as its territory.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

China to start major military drills around Taiwan (Aljazeera.com)

State media frame military exercises in six areas around self-ruled island as war plan rehearsal.

“There is no justification to use a visit as a pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait,” a statement from the G7’s foreign ministers’ said. Beijing had threatened “serious consequences” if she went ahead with the visit. “It is normal and routine for legislators from our countries to travel internationally. “We immediately fired flares to issue warnings and to drive them away. “If the conventional missiles of the PLA were to be launched from the mainland toward the west of Taiwan and hit targets to its east, this means that the missiles would fly over the island, which is unprecedented,” the paper quoted another Chinese mainland military expert Zhang Xuefeng as saying. On Thursday, the Ministry of National Defense described China’s military activities as “irrational” and with the “intention of changing the status quo and undermining regional peace and stability”.

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Image courtesy of "Daily Maverick"

Suspected drones over Taiwan, cyber attacks after Pelosi visit (Daily Maverick)

Hackers have attacked Taiwan's defence ministry website and suspected drones flew over outlying islands, authorities in Taipei said on Thursday, a day after ...

We made a promise to you that we’ll never erect a paywall and we intend to keep that promise. We also want to continually improve your reading experience and you can help us do that by registering with us. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has never renounced using force to bring it under its control. We made a promise to you that we’ll never erect a paywall and we intend to keep that promise. We also want to continually improve your reading experience and you can help us do that by registering with us. “We immediately fired flares to issue warnings and to drive them away.

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China begins live-fire military exercises in six zones around Taiwan ... (The Guardian)

Beijing says large-scale drills around island have started; Taiwan defence ministry said its website suffered cyber attacks and went offline temporarily.

It also reiterated “Asean member states’ support for their respective One-China Policy”. They continue to harass us and increase our air defence pressure.” The official describes todays events so far, saying about 10 Chinese navy ships briefly crossed the median line before they were “driven away” by Taiwanese navy boats. Taiwan’s ministry of defence said its armed forces are “operating as usual” and monitoring surroundings. The six identified zones surround the island, and occasionally overlap with Taiwanese territorial waters. “The Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted long-range live-fire shooting training in the Taiwan Straits on Thursday at around 1:00 p.m. and carried out precision strikes on specific areas in the eastern part of the Taiwan Straits,” state broadcaster CGTN added.

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Image courtesy of "Bloomberg"

Taiwan Braces for China Military Drills All Around Island (Bloomberg)

Taiwan braced for the Chinese military to start firing in exercises being held around the island in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit, ...

Live-fire drills in six areas surrounding the island began as planned at noon Thursday, Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television reported. The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command conducted long-range shooting drills in the Taiwan Strait around 1 p.m. on Thursday, CCTV said, adding that a “precise strike” was carried out in an unspecified area in the eastern part of the Taiwan Strait. It gave no other details.

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Image courtesy of "Axios"

China begins live ammunition drills near Taiwan after Pelosi visit (Axios)

The Chinese military warned boats and planes to avoid the areas from Thursday through Sunday for the drills, which the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said ...

The latest: Taiwan's Maritime Port Bureau reported that the Chinese military had added a seventh zone for its exercise encircling the self-governing island. Catch up quick: The Chinese government announced the exercises as Pelosi arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday for an overnight visit that angered Beijing, which had warned of "serious consequences" in the days leading up to the trip. - The Chinese military warned boats and planes to avoid the areas from Thursday through Sunday for the drills, which the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said violate Taipei's sovereignty and may amount "to a blockade of Taiwan’s air and sea space." - The planned exercises "unilaterally undermine regional peace and stability," the ministry said in astatementWednesday. "This move will not help China’s international image and will hurt people on both sides of the strait." - Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said in anonline postthat its armed forces were "operating as usual" and monitoring surroundings "in response to irrational activities" from China's military, which it said was aiming to destabilize the region's security." Meanwhile, China's Eastern Military Command said it had conducted "long-range firing in precision strikes" in eastern areas of the Taiwan Strait, per Reuters.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Taiwan decries China's 'illegitimate, irresponsible' live-fire military ... (Reuters)

TAIPEI, Aug 4 (Reuters) - China launched unprecedented live-fire military drills in six areas that ring Taiwan on Thursday, a day after a visit by U.S. ...

Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims, saying only the Taiwanese people can decide the island's future. I think we should thank Comrade Pelosi." There were no signs of significant protests or calls to boycott U.S. products. They continue to harass us," the Taiwanese source said. read more read more

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

China begins military exercises around Taiwan hours after two ... (Sky News)

Taiwan's defence ministry said before China's military exercises began on Thursday morning that some of the drills were due to take place within its ...

Analysis: Adam Boulton on the rising rhetoric stirred up by Nancy Pelosi's visit Pelosi leaves Taiwan as China is accused of invading territory in show on force "We immediately fired flares to issue warnings and to drive them away. Ms Pelosi concluded her visit to Taiwan on Wednesday with a pledge that the US commitment to democracy on the self-governing island and elsewhere "remains ironclad". That has never happened before and a senior ministry official described the potential move as "amounting to a sea and air blockade of Taiwan". Taiwan said before the military exercises began on Thursday morning that some of the drills were due to take place within its 12-nautical-mile sea and air territory. Taiwan's defence ministry said that some of the drills were due to take place within its 12-nautical-mile sea and air territory which had never happened before.

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

China unleashes wave of military drills around Taiwan after Nancy ... (Financial Times)

China said its armed forces have launched joint military exercises on an unprecedented scale in six areas ringing Taiwan on Thursday as Beijing seeks to ...

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Image courtesy of "Mail and Guardian"

China begins major Taiwan military drills after Pelosi visit (Mail and Guardian)

China's largest-ever military exercises encircling Taiwan kicked off Thursday, in a show of force straddling vital international shipping lanes after a ...

“China’s announced military exercises represent a clear escalation from the existing baseline of Chinese military activities around Taiwan and from the last Taiwan Strait Crisis in 1995-1996,” said Amanda Hsiao, senior analyst for China at the International Crisis Group. Beijing has defended the drills as “necessary and just”, pinning the blame for the escalation on the United States and its allies. The Group of Seven industrialised nations has condemned the drills, saying in a statement there was “no justification to use a visit as pretext for aggressive military activity in the Taiwan Strait”. “The Ministry of National Defence stresses that it will uphold the principle of preparing for war without seeking war, and with an attitude of not escalating conflict and causing disputes,” it said in a statement. It sparked a furious reaction from Beijing, which vowed “punishment” and announced military drills in the seas around Taiwan – some of the world’s busiest waterways. Pelosi was the highest-profile elected US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years, and said her trip made it “unequivocally clear” that the United States would not abandon a democratic ally.

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Image courtesy of "TIME"

China's Military Exercises Around Taiwan Are Forcing Shippers to ... (TIME)

Shippers are rerouting vessels as China begins military drills around Taiwan, creating logistical headaches for global supply chains.

CPC Corp., which has a refinery in Kaohsiung, located close to one of the drill zones, said its port operations remain unaffected. The Taiwan Strait is a key route, with almost half of the global container fleet passing through the waterway this year. However, the risks for ships traveling through Chinese waters may be compounded by bad weather, threatening further delays. Delays of that duration aren’t uncommon, and the long-term impact may be minimal if tensions ease next week. At least one liquefied natural gas tanker south of Taiwan changed course to avoid military drills, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. Several other ships are reducing speed to avoid the maneuvers, which will result in small delivery delays to Taiwan and other nearby countries, traders said. Some ships continued to travel through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday, with a few still in the drill zones, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. As of noon, there were approximately 15 vessels in the exercise regions, compared to 45 at the same time Wednesday. There were no ships in the zone closest to the China mainland in the Taiwan Strait.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Chinese vessels, aircraft make multiple incursions over median line ... (Reuters)

China's military made multiple brief incursions of the median line dividing the Taiwan Strait starting on Wednesday night and continuing through Thursday ...

They continue to harass us and increase our air defence pressure." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

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As China Plans Drills Circling Taiwan, U.S. Officials Fear a Squeeze ... (The New York Times)

Administration officials say they are hoping China's military exercises last only a few days, but they are discussing their options if the movements expand ...

That view has changed somewhat in recent months as the war in Ukraine has jolted Taiwan’s military and the public, prompting a greater embrace of the “porcupine” strategy. “Instead of announcing a military blockade they may instead announce an extended military exercise around Taiwan that closes or disrupts shipping routes for 30, 60, 90 days. While Taiwan’s military is sometimes allowed to participate in defense symposiums, it is rarely invited to join large multinational military exercises because most countries do not officially recognize it as a nation. “They could also help more in terms of technology transfer, to support our indigenous weapons development programs.” It is even more complicated by the continuing debate over how to help Taiwan become a “porcupine,’’ or a country too well defended for China to invade. Moreover, Taiwan’s defense budget hovers at around $17 billion a year, though it has committed to spend an additional $8 billion on armaments over the next several years. “This is one of the scenarios that is difficult to deal with,’’ said Bonny Lin, who directed the Taiwan desk at the Pentagon and held other defense positions before moving to the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, where she heads the China Power Project. “If a military exercise transitions to a blockade, when does it become clear that the exercise is now a blockade? They have also argued that without an explicit security guarantee from the United States, it would be too risky for Taiwan to give up its lethal weapons. Administration officials say that based on their assessments a full cutoff of access to Taiwan is unlikely — in large part because it would hurt China’s own economy at a time of severe economic slowdown. But their assessment was that China’s strategy is to intimidate and coerce, without triggering a direct conflict. It was also when China’s military packed a fraction of the punch it now boasts, including anti-ship missiles developed to deter American warships from getting close. That question may soon be tested for the first time in a quarter of a century.

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

'Take down Pelosi's plane': Chinese social media users react to ... (Financial Times)

One Beijing academic who advises government officials on Taiwan policymaking said the initial divergence between hot-headed social media commentators and ...

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