China announced Monday it would extend its military exercises around Taiwan. China launched the drills as a response to the recent visit to Taiwan by U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), third in line to the U.S. presidency.
China considers Taiwan a part of its own territory. The two sides split in 1949 after a civil war. China’s Communist regime has bristled at the notion of other nations acknowledging Taiwan’s sovereignty. Speaker Pelosi was the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit the self-governed island democracy in more than 20 years.
China launched live-fire exercises involving dozens of warplanes, navy ships and missile strikes. Now, China will add anti-submarine drills to the military exercises. According to military analysts, those exercises are looking more like a rehearsal for a potential blockade and invasion of the island.
Tensions were so high over the weekend that Taiwan even scrambled its air reconnaissance patrols because of the drills.
If an invasion happens, the United States, Japan and Australia would all likely be drawn into the conflict and come to Taiwan’s aid.
On Monday, President Joe Biden was asked about China’s response to Speaker Pelosi’s visit. Biden said, “I’m not worried, but I am concerned that they’re moving as much as they are. But I don’t think they’re going to do anything more than they are.”
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is running for reelection. He said bringing Taiwan back under control of the mainland is one of his “core interests.”
China is ignoring calls to ease tensions, and there are no indications for when the military drills will end.
Taiwan will hold military drills of its own in response to China. Taiwan’s drills will include snipers, combat vehicles and attack helicopters.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
