An Air Force aircraft under the Eastern Theatre Command of China鈥檚 People鈥檚 Liberation Army (PLA) takes off for military exercises in the waters around Taiwan, from an undisclosed location in this August 4, 2022 handout released on August 5, 2022. Eastern Theatre Command/Handout via REUTERS
TAIPEI 鈥� Taiwan鈥檚 foreign minister said on Tuesday that China was using the military drills it launched in protest against U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi鈥檚 visit as an excuse to prepare for an invasion of the self-ruled island.
Joseph Wu told a press conference in Taipei that Taiwan, which is claimed by China as its own, would not be intimidated even as the drills continued with China often breaching the unofficial median line down the Taiwan Strait.
鈥淐hina has used the drills 鈥� to prepare for the invasion of Taiwan,鈥� Wu said, urging international support to safeguard 鈥減eace and stability across the Taiwan Strait鈥�.
鈥淚t鈥檚 conducting large-scale military exercises, missile launches as well as cyber attacks, a disinformation campaign and economic coercion in an attempt to weaken public morale in Taiwan.鈥�
Wu spoke as military tensions simmer after the scheduled end on Sunday of four days of the largest-ever Chinese exercises surrounding the island 鈥� drills that included ballistic missile launches and simulated sea and air attacks in the skies and seas surrounding Taiwan.
China鈥檚 Eastern Theater Command announced on Monday that it would conduct fresh joint drills focusing on ant-submarine and sea assault operations 鈥� confirming the fears of some security analysts and diplomats that Beijing would keep up the pressure on Taiwan鈥檚 defences.
Soldiers fire 155mm howitzers during an annual live fire military exercise in Pingtung county, southern Taiwan August 9, 2022. REUTERS
As Pelosi left the region last Friday, China also ditched some lines of communication with the United States, including theatre level military talks and discussions on climate change.
Taiwan started its own long-scheduled drills on Tuesday, firing howitzer artillery out to sea in the southern county of Pingtung.
U.S. President Joe Biden, in his first public comments on the issue since Pelosi鈥檚 visit, said on Monday he was concerned about China鈥檚 actions in the region but he was not worried about Taiwan.
鈥淚鈥檓 concerned they are moving as much as they are,鈥� Biden told reporters in Delaware, referring to China. 鈥淏ut I don鈥檛 think they鈥檙e going to do anything more than they are.鈥�
A senior Pentagon official said Washington was sticking to an earlier assessment that Beijing would not try to invade Taiwan in the next two years.
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl also said the U.S. military would continue to carry out voyages through the Taiwan Strait in the coming weeks.
China has never ruled out taking Taiwan by force and on Monday Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that China was conducting normal military exercises 鈥渋n our waters鈥� in an open, transparent and professional way, adding Taiwan was part of China.
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