China Launches Major Drills Around Taiwan

The Chinese military launched three days of major military exercises in the Taiwan Strait in response to US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (D-CA) meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in California.

The exercises were announced by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) as Tsai returned to Taiwan. During the first day of drills on Saturday, the PLA said it was practicing its ability to “seize control of the sea, air and information” around Taiwan.

Shi Yi, a spokesman for the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, made clear the drills were a response to Tsai’s meeting with McCarthy. “This is to send a serious warning against Taiwan independence separatist forces and their collusion with foreign forces to stir provocations,” Shi said.