China conducted coercive military drills around Taiwan from December 9-11, the largest since the 1996 Taiwan Strait Crisis, in protest against Taiwanese President Lai Cheng-te’s transit through Hawaii and Guam. The drills involved 90 Chinese naval and coast guard vessels and dozens of aircraft, aiming to prevent foreign interference in China’s coercion of Taiwan. The exercise was described as “total military intimidation” by a Taiwanese official, and China’s Ministry of National Defense stated that it was meant to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Full Article
Loading PerspectiveSplit analysis...