Washington plans to send warships to the Taiwan Strait in the coming days, a report from the US Naval Institute revealed.. The announcement comes amid escalating tensions between the US and China, following last week’s visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei.
Pelosi said Wednesday that her country will not allow China to isolate Taiwan.in his first press conference after his trip to the island last week that triggered a crisis with Beijing.
Pelosi pointed out that the purpose of her visit was to reaffirm “the strong relationship” between the US and Taiwan based on the “status quo”.
He added that the trip also served to show his respect for the “success” economic and the “enthusiasm” of her people for American democracy and said she felt “very proud” of the US Congressional delegation that she led during her tour of Asia.
The possibility of the US sending warships is known after Monday the Pentagon stated that it will continue to operate through the Taiwan Strait.
The Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Colin Kahl, described in a press conference at the Pentagon that this is “a crisis manufactured” by Beijing.
“We will continue to fly, navigate and operate wherever international law allows us, including across the Taiwan Strait, and we will continue to stand with our allies and partners in the region.”, he indicated.
For now, Washington has stationed a group of aircraft carriers, led by the USS Ronald Reagan, in waters near Taiwan. In addition, the USS America Expeditionary Strike Group is in a Japanese port ready to set sail, reported World Socialist Web Site.
According to Global Timesthe China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is expected to deter and cut off the interference routes of external forces from the east side of Taiwan Island.
According to a Chinese military expert, consulted by the Asian newspaper, “the PLA may establish new navigation restriction zones in the midst of its consecutive exercises around the island of Taiwan, and this will prevent US warships from entering the Taiwan Strait. from a tactical level.
And I add: “The United States must realize that the PLA will not give an inch when it comes to safeguarding national sovereigntysecurity, and major core interests such as the Taiwan issue.”
Gideon Rachman, editor at Financial Timeswarned in a recent column: “In the past, a war between the United States and China over Taiwan seemed like a real possibility, but no more than that. Now, a growing number of experts believe that a conflict between the United States and China is not only possible but likely.”.
In the meantime, China announced on Tuesday that its armed forces will continue military exercises around Taiwan., after the unprecedented deployment with live fire carried out in recent days in retaliation for Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei.
The PLA Eastern Theater Command said that the next drills will be to prepare “joint defense” and “joint blockade” operations of the self-governed island, without a specific end date, According to the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post.
Also, The Beijing Maritime Safety Administration issued a warning to shipping, restricting entry into the eastern waters of Nansan Island in the South China Sea from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for three days starting Tuesday, as Shooting practice begins.
For its part, Taiwan on Tuesday staged a mock defense of the island with live artillery fire and accused Beijing of preparing an invasion. Lou Woei-jye, a spokesman for Taiwan’s Eighth Army Corps, confirmed that the exercises began in the southern county of Pingtung shortly after 0040 GMT with the firing of flares and artillery, and ended within an hour at 1.30 GMT.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu assured that China uses air and sea maneuvers “to prepare for the invasion of Taiwan.” According to him, “China’s true intention is to alter the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and throughout the region.
Taiwan, an island with autonomous government, has lived for decades under the constant threat of invasion by Chinawhich considers this territory as its own province to recover one day, by force if necessary.
Although the Chinese maneuvers were the largest in decades, analysts of the Xi Jinping regime suggest that they would become routine.
Keep reading:
Taiwan began live-fire maneuvers to defend against a potential Chinese attack
The US affirmed that it will continue to operate through the Taiwan Strait despite the crisis with China
Source-www.infobae.com