China launches military drills from ‘multiple directions’ around Taiwan, testing US resolve | CNN
www.cnn.com
The Chinese military said Tuesday it had launched joint exercises involving its army, navy, air force and rocket force around Taiwan as a “stern warning,” days after US defense chief Pete Hegseth vowed to counter “China’s aggression” on his first visit to Asia.

Summary

China launched large-scale military drills around Taiwan involving its army, navy, air force, and rocket force in a “stern warning” following U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Asia visit, where he pledged to counter Chinese aggression.

The drills encircle Taiwan from multiple directions and simulate blockades and assaults.

Taiwan condemned the exercises as “reckless” and “irresponsible,” and has placed its military on alert.

Taiwan, a democracy of 23 million people, faces threats from China, which claims the island and vows to seize it by force. Experts say such exercises are routine as China asserts control and tests U.S. resolve in the region.

  • @PhilipTheBucket@ponder.catEnglish
    1•2 days ago

    I actually am not sure that it’s as big a deal as that.

    For decades and decades now, China’s leaders have gotten mileage as do a ton of various leaders around the world by rattling their sabers at the US. It’s just a popular thing to do, and it’s easy and usually pretty consequence-free. It’s like talking about abortion or immigrants for US Republicans. I think if they wanted to start a war with Taiwan, they would have been starting some kind of war about something in the area of the South China Sea, as opposed to just shooting water cannons and making stern statements. Maybe start with something lower-stakes but really commit to it. They have not been doing that.

    For as much as US and Chinese leaders talk shit about one another, and their intelligence services like to spy / undermine each other, they both benefit so enormously from the mutual relationship and there’s so much at stake in terms of fucking it up if things really come to blows that I feel like it’s not a priority. Maybe I am wrong and China will see their chance to snatch Taiwan while it’s Trump, since Trump definitely will not do shit if they do. But I just feel like the upsides are a little limited and the potential downsides are massive.