China's military is surrounding Taiwan, sending its new president an unmistakable message

The Chinese armed forces began conducting large-scale military exercises around Taiwan on Thursday, just days after the island's newly elected president Lai Ching-te took office.

It's not the first time China has conducted a large exercise around Taiwan like this, but it is a noticeably large event. The move sends an unmistakable message to Taiwan, yields strategic benefits for Beijing, and sets a sour tone for Chinese-Taiwanese relations as a new president's term in office begins.

Exercise "Joint Sword" began Thursday morning, and it will last two days. The drills will focus on "joint sea-air combat readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets," per Chinese state media reports on these exercises.

Taiwan's military reported that China deployed 33 aircraft, 16 Coast Guard vessels, and 15 Navy ships for the drill. In addition to surrounding Taiwan's main island, Chinese forces also executed drills in the waters around offshore islands Kinmen, Matsuri, Wuqiu, and Dongyin.

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MSN

 

[1LoverofGod]

Update:

China is Reportedly Preparing Large Military Fleet to Invade Taiwan — Expert Predicts Invasion Could Conclude Within an Hour
China has reportedly been making significant preparations for a full-scale invasion of Taiwan, according to The Telegraph.

This preparation includes not only military vessels but also an unusual incorporation of civilian ferries, hinting at a large-scale invasion strategy.

China carried out a two-day large-scale exercise involving 111 aircraft and 46 naval vessels around Taiwan, signaling a sharp escalation in tensions across the Taiwan Strait, according to VOA News.

It further vowed to intensify its measures until “complete reunification” is accomplished.

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China is Reportedly Preparing Large Military Fleet to Invade Taiwan — Expert Predicts Invasion Could Conclude Within an Hour | The Gateway Pundit | by Jim Hᴏft

China has reportedly been making significant preparations for a full-scale invasion of Taiwan, according to The Telegraph.

www.thegatewaypundit.com

 

[Tall Timbers]

Mainland China may be surprised by Taiwan's defenses... at least I hope they are... If China is really going to invade Taiwan then they probably want to do it before the US election in November. Invading isn't really their style, at least not so far, and the actual ability of their military to project power remains to be seen. I don't know how good Taiwan's air defenses are, but I hope they're robust.

 

[Matthew6:33]

Invading isn't really their style, at least not so far, and the actual ability of their military to project power remains to be seen.

I am skeptical of their ability as well. Communist era countries always seem to fumble the ball when it comes to large military operations. Just look at Ukraine.

 

[Batman]

It makes sense that China would do this while Russia is attacking the Ukraine, so it makes you wonder who else is emboldened? Iran, Iraq, Turkey, all terrorists, some terrorists, proxies........even North Korea or North Vietnam?

 

[Tall Timbers]

Here's What a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan Would Mean for the Rest of the World​

TAIPEI, Taiwan — "Taiwan matters for the entire global economy, and because it matters for the global economy it matters for Kentucky's economy." That's how Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) — co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus — explained his concern for the future of the Republic of China in an interview with Townhall following a day of meetings in Taipei.

Businesses and workers in his district encircling Lexington rely on Taiwan, Barr said, including at the world's largest Toyota manufacturing facility. The Georgetown, Kentucky, plant can crank out more than 500,000 vehicles per year and employs just shy of 10,000 full-time workers.

"If you think about the way automobiles are manufactured right now, they require a lot of electronics," Barr emphasized to Townhall of the ubiquity of semiconductors. "Ninety percent of the world's advanced semiconductors are manufactured here in Taiwan," he said the industry that's become another deterring factor against a Chinese invasion, the "silicon shield."

Here's What a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan Would Mean for the Rest of the World

townhall.com

 

[Andy C]

This could get real interesting, but Im not sure China is ready to test what the global response might be.

 

[Tall Timbers]

China defence chief says Beijing ready to ‘forcefully’ stop Taiwan independence​

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun warned Sunday his military is ready to “forcefully” stop Taiwan independence but called for greater exchanges with the United States.

“We believe that we need more exchanges precisely because there are differences between our two militaries.”

“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army has always been an indestructible and powerful force in defence of the unification of the motherland, and it will act resolutely and forcefully at all times to curb the independence of Taiwan and to ensure that it never succeeds in its attempts,” Dong told the forum on Sunday.

“Whoever dares to split Taiwan from China will be crushed to pieces and suffer his own destruction.”

China defence chief says Beijing ready to 'forcefully' stop Taiwan independence - Breitbart

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun warned Sunday his military is ready to "forcefully" stop Taiwan independence but called for greater exchanges with the

www.breitbart.com

There probably aren't too many mainland Chinese that understand that Taiwan is a fully independent country that was pushed off the mainland onto the island but never defeated. When you grow up on propaganda, like our children in the USA now are, one's view of things can be very twisted.