Taiwan kicked off its largest annual military exercises amid renewed threats from China
Military personnel guide local residents to take shelter during the Wanan Air Raid Drill, a civilian air-raid drill held on the same day of the annual Han Kuang military exercises, in Taipei on July 25, 2022.BEIJING — Taiwan’s capital staged air raid drills Monday and its military mobilized for routine defense exercises, coinciding with concerns over a forceful Chinese response to a possible visit to the island by U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
In Taipei, police directed randomly selected subway commuters to shelters when a siren went off shortly after lunchtime. Most departed after about 15 minutes. Beijing says those actions are aimed at deterring advocates of the island’s formal independence and foreign allies—principally the U.S.—from interfering, more than 70 years after the sides split amid civil war. Surveys routinely show that Taiwan’s 23 million people reject China’s assertions that the island is a Chinese province that has strayed and must be brought under Beijing’s control.Pelosi, long a sharp critic of Beijing, is second in line to the White House.
During a visit to Indonesia on Sunday, U.S. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the Chinese military has become significantly more aggressive and dangerous over the past five years. “If the U.S. is determined to make happen, they know China will take unprecedented tough measures and the U.S. must make military preparations,” said Shi Yinhong, an international relations expert at Beijing’s Renmin University.
Xi is meanwhile seeking a third five-year term as party leader at a congress later this year and needs to show he is in charge amid a slowing economy and a public backlash against his “zero-COVID” policy.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Rishi Sunak calls Beijing UK's 'biggest threat' as he takes tough stance on ChinaRishi Sunak calls Beijing UK's 'biggest threat' as he takes tough stance on China 🔴 The former chancellor has sought to burnish his national security credentials in a challenge to leadership rival Liz Truss
Read more »
Tory leadership race: Truss pledges 'full-fat freeports' and Sunak will get 'tough on China'Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak's campaigns are now getting into more of the nitty gritty of policy pledges as they try to sway Conservative Party members in the race to become Tory leader and prime minister.
Read more »