Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that it’s closely monitoring Chinese military drills in the waters and airspace around Taiwan. The exercises have been announced ahead of a meeting between President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy scheduled for Wednesday morning US time.
China has previously threatened taking “resolute measures” if a meeting between Tsai and McCarthy took place. Tsai is transiting through the US on her way back from visiting Latin American allies. During her stopover in Los Angeles, she is scheduled to meet with McCarthy and other US lawmakers on Wednesday at 10 a.m. local time.
China staged large-scale military drills around Taiwan following former US Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s surprise visit to Taiwan in August 2022.
The latest round of exercises, which began on Wednesday, has been labeled a “joint cruise and patrol special operation.”
Presidential spokesperson Lin Yu-chan (林聿禪) said on Wednesday that President Tsai has been briefed on the recent developments early in the morning and she is urging people to remain calm.