Chinese military winds down Taiwan exercises but tensions remain high in wake of Nancy Pelosi’s visit
- Beijing said the war games highlighted its ability to breach Taiwan’s defences and announced a further series of drills near US military bases in Japan
- Diplomatic observers said heightened tensions between the US and China would continue but do not expect things to escalate to the point of conflict
The unprecedented military exercises – launched in response to a visit that China regards as a major breach of its sovereignty – have broken the tacit rules observed by armed forces on both sides of the strait for decades and set precedents that, if repeated, could severely squeeze Taiwan’s defence space.
Beijing did not formally announce an end to its military drills – which it said would last until noon on Sunday – although Taiwan’s transport ministry told airlines to gradually resume flights near the six designated exercise zones after that time, indicating that the military action had stopped.
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Why mainland China is holding military drills in Taiwan Strait following US Speaker Pelosi’s trip
Taiwan’s defence ministry has declined to confirm that the exercises had finished. Taiwanese media quoted the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command as saying exercises had continued as planned around Taiwan’s coastline.
The Eastern Theatre Command on Sunday said “several strategic bomber groups had crossed the Taiwan Strait from the north and the south simultaneously”. In video footage released by the command, an H-6K strategic bomber can be seen escorted by fighter jets approaching an unspecified coastline.