China completes military drills around Taiwan after Pelosi visit

China has wrapped up its unprecedented four days of drills that showcased Beijing’s growing military prowess and determination to challenge what it called “any attempt to separate Taiwan from China”, after the controversial visit to the island democracy last week by the US House speaker, Nancy Pelosi.

A Chinese state television commentator said the Chinese military would now conduct “regular” drills on the Taiwan side of the line, saying the “historic task” of China’s “reunification” could be realised, The Guardian reported on August 7, according to The Guardian. 

The series of drills, which began on August 4, were carried out in response to a rare visit by the US House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi. Beijing regards Taiwan as a part of China’s own territory and it responded with test launches of ballistic missiles over Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei, for the first time.

China also halted some ties with the US, including cancelling a number of efforts to keep communication channels open between military commanders and suspending bilateral collaborations on the climate crisis.

Chinese and Taiwanese warships shadowed each other on August 7, in the hours before the scheduled end of the military exercises. The People’s Liberation Army said its drills focused on testing China’s long-range air and ground strikes.

Taiwan responded to Beijing with its own show of defiance. Its official news outlet, Central News Agency, reported that its army would conduct live-fire artillery drills in the southern Pingtung county on Tuesday and Thursday. In the last few days, Taipei’s diplomats have also condemned Beijing’s actions in front of international media.

About 10 warships each from China and Taiwan sailed at close quarters in the Taiwan strait on August 7, with some Chinese vessels crossing the median line, an unofficial buffer separating the two sides, Reuters reported, citing a person with knowledge of the matter.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said it had detected 66 Chinese air force planes and 14 Chinese warships conducting activities in and around the Taiwan strait on August 7.

While Chinese forces “pressed” the line, as they had on Saturday, the Taiwan side stayed close to monitor and, where possible, deny the Chinese the ability to cross.

“The two sides are showing restraint,” the person said, describing the manoeuvres as “cat and mouse”. The person continued: “One side tries to cross, and the other stands in the way and forces them to a more disadvantaged position and eventually return to the other side.”

Taiwan said its shore-based anti-ship missiles and Patriot surface-to-air missiles were on standby.

The Chinese exercises, centred on six zones around the island, began on August 4 and were scheduled to last until midday on August 7. China’s military said on Saturday it was conducting sea and air joint exercises north, south-west and east of Taiwan, with a focus on testing land-strike and sea-assault capabilities.