Chinese military launches large-scale drills around Taiwan

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By HUIZHONG WU and JOHNSON LAI
Updated 5:45 AM CDT, April 1, 2025

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — The Chinese military announced large-scale drills in the waters and airspace around Taiwan on Tuesday that include an aircraft carrier battle group, as it again warned the self-ruled island democracy against seeking formal independence.

The joint exercises involve navy, air ground and rocket forces and are meant to be a “severe warning and forceful containment against Taiwan independence,” according to Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command. No operational name for the drills was announced nor previous notice given.

China considers Taiwan a part of its territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary, while most Taiwanese favor their de-facto independence and democratic status. Any conflict could bring in the U.S., which maintains a series of alliances in the region and is legally bound to treat threats to Taiwan as a matter of “grave concern.”

Taiwan’s Presidential Office posted on X that “China’s blatant military provocations not only threaten peace in the #Taiwan Strait but also undermine security in the entire region, as evidenced by drills near Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, the Philippines & the SCS. We strongly condemn China’s escalatory behavior.”



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/china-taiwan-military-drills-56a39e0044657c0a74482184895e6bed

[C_U_L8R]

1. Trump is too busy screwing up our economy and being a clown.

Those were the days when we had capable leadership in this country. Sigh.

[wyn borkins]

2. Here's an Idea

Put Musk and his DOGE boys in command of the U.S. military so that they can effectively offset the threat from the Chinese military around Taiwan.

What could go wrong?

[Martin68]

3. Emboldened, no doubt, by Trump.

[artemisia1]

4. Both China's economy and demographics are a basket case. Just like when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands to d

distract from domestic woes, this is a VERY dangerous time. It is very likely that China lost at least 100 million to COVID and their cities are depopulated and their villages abandoned. The CCP may see finding an "external" threat as their only chance of remaining in power.