As Biden’s Emissaries Go to Taiwan, Beijing Terms Exercises ‘Combat Drills’

As Biden’s Emissaries Go to Taiwan, Beijing Terms Exercises ‘Combat Drills’
From left, former U.S. senator Chris Dodd, former U.S. Deputies Secretary of State James Steinberg and Richard Armitage have their photo taken with Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu upon arrival in Taipei, Taiwan, on April 14, 2021. Central News Agency via Reuters
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China described its military exercises near Taiwan as “combat drills” on April 14, upping the ante as senior former U.S. officials arrived in Taipei on a trip to signal President Joe Biden’s commitment to Taiwan and its democracy.

Taiwan has complained about the proximity of repeated Chinese military activity, including fighter jets and bombers entering its air defense zone and a Chinese aircraft carrier exercising off the island, which is claimed by Beijing.