China Holds Its Biggest Ever Military Exercise Around Taiwan
China has conducted its largest ever military exercise around Taiwan from August 04 to 07, 2022, following the visit of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.
After Pelosi's visit, the force began its military exercises on the international shipping lane considered important. The Chinese army has also conducted military
exercises in six different areas till 07 August. China is trying to encircle Taiwan.
Pelosi left Taiwan after a day's visit, but Beijing is furious about it, and has warned Taiwan of dire consequences. Taiwan is a self- governing island and China wants its control over it. Pelosi is the senior US elected official to visit Taiwan in the past 25 years. Pelosi said during the visit that the United States would not abandon this democratic- ally.Background of Sino-Taiwan conflict
China and Taiwan split during the civil war in 1949, although China still considers Taiwan as its part and is willing to gain control over it by any means necessary. At the same time, Taiwan's leaders say that Taiwan is a sovereign state.
After decades of tension, relations between China and Taiwan began to improve in the 1980s. China presented a formula as 'one country, two systems' under which Taiwan would be granted autonomy if it accepted reunification with China.
Taiwan declined the offer, although the Taiwanese government relaxed rules regarding travel and investment there. During this period, informal talks between the two sides also started, although China says that Taiwan's Republic of China (ROC) is illegally blocking government-to-government talks.
The implementation of the National Security Act in Hong Kong in 2020 is also seen by many as a sign of the fact that China is becoming more assertive in the
region.
America in China-Taiwan conflict
The Chinese government passed an anti secession law 2005, which provided conditions for the implementation of non-peaceful means to prevent the permanent separation of Taiwan from mainland China. As part of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) 1979, the US is committed to assisting Taiwan if China invades Taiwan.
America's side
The US has strongly criticized China's policy of intimidating its neighbours, including Taiwan. The United States has urged China to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan
and engage in fruitful dialogue with Taiwan's democratically elected representatives.