Over the Christmas weekend China launched the largest military drills yet to simulate an invasion of Taiwan, causing alarm among national security experts.
"China sent 71 warplanes near Taiwan as a part of its biggest display of military might since US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the democratically run island, with Taipei accusing Beijing of 'military intimidation,'" Bloomberg reports. "The Ministry of Defense in Taipei said the flights included 47 Chinese military aircraft that crossed either the median line of the Taiwan Strait or entered Taiwan’s southwest air-defense identification zone in a 24-hour period to 6 a.m. Monday."
China launched 71 fighter jets and other aircraft near Taiwan on Christmas Day —nearly 50 crossed unofficial boundary line in Taiwan Strait—one of largest simulated attacks on the island to date.
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) December 26, 2022
So this is finally almost happening: Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen plans a high-level natsec meeting tomorrow AM on defense matters, followed by another meeting with lawmakers and a news conference where announcement of extending conscription is likely to be expected pic.twitter.com/a9nsTdMMJU
— Joyu Wang (@joyuwang) December 26, 2022
71 PLA aircraft and 7 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected in our surrounding region by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. R.O.C. Armed Forces have monitored the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond these activities. pic.twitter.com/DagRhnN69F
— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) December 26, 2022
Communist China sent over 70 warplanes to intimidate Taiwan on Monday.
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) December 27, 2022
The U.S. must always support the freedom-loving people of Taiwan.
Meanwhile over at the State Department, Secretary of State Antony Blinken just sent the message to China that the U.S. is incapable of defending Taiwan should they choose to invade the island.
"If we were still in Afghanistan, it would have, I think, made much more complicated the support that we’ve been able to give and that others have been able to give Ukraine to resist and push back against the Russian aggression," Blinken told reporters just before China engaged in the latest intimidation against Taiwan.
Tony Blinken just gave China the green light on Taiwan.
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) December 27, 2022
Whether accidental or purposeful, that was an extremely dangerous statement that needs to be clarified IMMEDIATELY. https://t.co/6QQvZ1GoEF
In response to China's escalation, Taiwan has ordered an extension of military service.
Taiwan Extends Mandatory Military Service Due To Chinese Invasion Threat https://t.co/ejPU926zAe
— The War Zone (@thewarzonewire) December 27, 2022