China conducts fresh drills for Taiwan as a US team is in town

On Monday, as yet another American congressional delegation visited the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing and contested its ‘one China’ policy, China resorted to additional intense military exercises in the area.

Less than a fortnight ago, Beijing began conducting unprecedented war simulations in response for US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, which stoked concerns of a Chinese invasion of the independent island.

Following Pelosi’s secret two-day visit on August 2, the highest-level US official visit in 25 years that infuriated Beijing, the US Congressional delegation headed by Massachusetts Democratic Senator Ed Markey landed in Taipei on Sunday.

The five-person delegation is in Taiwan to “reaffirm the United States’ support for Taiwan” and to “promote stability and peace across the Taiwan Strait,” according to a statement released by a Markey official.

According to CNN, the delegation consists of Republican Aumua Amata and Democratic Representatives Don Beyer, Alan Lowenthal, and John Garamendi.

China conducted its largest military exercises in the busy Taiwan Strait from August 4 to August 10 in reaction to Pelosi’s visit.

In response to the visit by yet another US team, China announced yet another round of military exercises on Monday.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, announced that on Monday, his Command organized joint combat-readiness security patrol and combat training exercises involving personnel from various services and arms in the waters and airspace surrounding Taiwan Island.