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Beijing responds to Pelosi visit with days of military drills encircling Taiwan
- PLA is ramping up pressure, with exercises to take place in six different areas, creating a blockade around the island’s main ports, analysts say
- Air traffic will be affected, and Taiwanese officials are talking to counterparts in Japan and the Philippines to arrange alternative air routes
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Beijing is ramping up its military intimidation campaign against Taiwan with days of drills to be held around the self-ruled island in the wake of a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The People’s Liberation Army said the exercises would take place in six different areas around Taiwan from noon on Thursday until noon on Sunday.
Foreign airlines have been told to avoid these “danger zones” during the period, in notices sent by Chinese aviation authorities. Representatives of Korean Air, ANA and Japan Airlines said they were re-routing some services to minimise the risk, Bloomberg reported.
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Xiamen Airlines has also made changes to flights, citing “flow control” in the mainland Chinese province of Fujian, which is opposite Taiwan.
03:35
Mainland China conducts military live-fire drills as tensions soar over Pelosi visit to Taiwan
Mainland China conducts military live-fire drills as tensions soar over Pelosi visit to Taiwan
It comes after the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command conducted air and sea drills near the island that began on Tuesday evening, when Pelosi arrived in Taipei for a brief visit that has infuriated Beijing, which sees the island as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take control of it.
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