China will keep escalating military intimidation of Taiwan, experts say

People’s Liberation Army has more plans afoot to target the island, military insider says

It follows announcement of first joint combat-readiness patrol aimed at Taiwan by fighting unit responsible for contingencies there

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Beijing is stepping up military exercises around Taiwan, fearing the island will attempt to declare independence, an insider says. Pictured is a PLA Chengdu J-20. Photo: 81.cn

Published: 7:00am, 13 Nov 2021Updated: 11:19pm, 13 Nov 2021

The People’s Liberation Army is expected to show off more new weapons and conduct bigger military exercises targeting Taiwan as Beijing gears up for continued intimidation of the island, military analysts and an insider said.

The PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command, the key fighting unit responsible for Taiwan contingencies, on Tuesday declared a joint combat-readiness patrol aimed at Taiwan for the first time, a few hours after several United States lawmakers made an unannounced visit to Taipei.

“The tour was seen by Beijing as a move towards Taiwan independence,” said a military insider, who requested anonymity. “The mainland has come up with some military activities specifically targeting the island’s separatist forces, which will be moved up step by step.”

The source said one plan was deploying weapons not previously used around Taiwan. For example, the J-20 stealth fighter jet has been deployed to the Eastern Theatre Command.

“The PLA sent almost all its aircraft to conduct routine patrols near Taiwan, except the most advanced J-20,” they said. “However, the aircraft have been monitoring the island quietly for a while.”

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