China has announced military maneuvers near the island amid tensions with Taiwan. The Chinese army said the “combat preparation exercise” will take place from Saturday to Monday in the Taiwan Strait, north and south of the island and in the waters and airspace east of Taiwan. No further details have been given so far.
The announcement came shortly after the US visit of Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, who was received by US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday. Beijing sharply criticized the meeting and relocated warships near Taiwan on Thursday.
In protest at the meeting, China imposed sanctions on US organizers of events involving Tsai. Among other things, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, where the meeting took place on Wednesday, was punished.
Taipei is under increasing pressure from Beijing. Since the split between China and Taiwan in 1949, Beijing has viewed the island as a breakaway territory that it wants to reunite with the mainland – if necessary using military force.
