China Stages More ‘Combat Drills’ Near Taiwan During US Lawmakers’ Visit

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen (R-6) poses for photos with U.S. congressional delegation and other Taiwan officials during a meeting at the Ppresidential Office in Taipei, Taiwan, on Aug. 15, 2022. Taiwan Presidential Office via AP

The Chinese regime staged more military drills around Taiwan on Aug. 15, as a group of U.S. lawmakers met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

The five-member U.S. congressional delegation, led by Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), arrived in Taipei late on Aug. 14. Their unannounced two-day trip came on the heels of a similar visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), which drew the wrath of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The Chinese military organized “multi-service joint combat readiness patrols” and “actual combat drills” in the sea and air spaces near Taiwan, Wu Qian, spokesperson of the Chinese Defense Ministry said in an Aug. 15 statement.

The new drills were a “resolute response and solemn deterrence to U.S.–Taiwan collusion,” Wu said. “The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to train and prepare for war.”

The communist regime in Beijing views the self-ruled island as its territory, to be taken by force if necessary. It’s also against any official exchanges between Taiwan and other governments around the world that might suggest its status as a de facto island-state.

The latest announcement comes after the CCP drew international condemnation for using Pelosi’s visit earlier in August as a pretext to launch a series of escalated military operations. These drills included live-fire military exercises and sending several ballistic missiles flying over Taiwan.

As of 5 p.m. local time on Aug. 15, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense reported five Chinese military warships and 30 aircraft in and around the Taiwan Strait.

The Meeting

Tsai, who met with U.S. delegations in her office in Taipei, said Beijing’s “prolonged military exercises” have “greatly affected regional peace and stability.”

“We are engaging in close cooperation with international allies to closely monitor the military situation,” she said. “At the same time, we are doing everything we can to let the world know that Taiwan is determined to safeguard stability and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.”

Markey reaffirmed Washington’s support for the democratically governed island.

“We have a moral obligation to do everything to prevent an unnecessary conflict,” he told Tsai. “Taiwan has demonstrated incredible restraint and discretion during challenging times.”

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (R) meets with U.S. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Taiwan, on Aug. 15, 2022. Taiwan Presidential Office via AP

This week’s delegation also included Reps. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), and Don Beyer (D-Va.), as well as Del. Amata Radewagen (R-American Samoa).

But unlike Pelosi’s, this group’s trip was relatively low-key. Tsai’s meeting with the lawmakers wasn’t carried live on her social media pages, which is the general practice when high-level foreign guests visit.

The group left Taiwan in the late afternoon on Aug. 15, and only then did the Presidential Office release footage of the meeting with Tsai. It wasn’t immediately clear where they were traveling next.

Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang later said Taiwan wouldn’t be deterred by China’s response to such visits by foreign friends.

“We can’t just do nothing because there is an evil neighbor next door and not dare to let visitors or friends come,” he told reporters.

Reuters contributed to the report.