The United States and allies recently deployed more than 5,000 soldiers on land, sea, and air for joint combat drills in Indonesia.
The movement was in response to China’s continued aggressive behavior against Taiwan after it recently deployed hundreds of warplanes, flying near Taiwan in recent weeks.
The recent military exercise was the largest operation since the nations first started such cooperation in 2009.
In a statement released by U.S. Navy Adm. John Aquilino, who oversaw the exercise, claimed that “I spend every waking minute doing everything to ensure we are preventing conflict in the region and that is my commitment to all of my partners. Every day we will try to prevent war.”
China’s aggression was fueled by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent visit, making her the first in her position to visit the island since Newt Gingrich in 1997.
Pelosi also provoked the communist country following her op-ed, targeting China for its actions against Taiwan.
“Today, America must remember that vow. We must stand by Taiwan, which is an island of resilience. In recent years, Beijing has dramatically intensified tensions with Taiwan. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has ramped up patrols of bombers, fighter jets and surveillance aircraft near and even over Taiwan’s air defense zone, leading the U.S. Defense Department to conclude that China’s army is ‘likely preparing for a contingency to unify Taiwan with the PRC by force.’” Pelosi wrote.
“The PRC has also taken the fight into cyberspace, launching scores of attacks on Taiwan government agencies each day. At the same time, Beijing is squeezing Taiwan economically, pressuring global corporations to cut ties with the island, intimidating countries that cooperate with Taiwan, and clamping down on tourism from the PRC,” Pelosi added.
“In the face of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) accelerating aggression, our congressional delegation’s visit should be seen as an unequivocal statement that America stands with Taiwan, our democratic partner, as it defends itself and its freedom.” The speaker continued.
After Pelosi’s visit, China has fired missiles and gone into Taiwanese sea and airspace.
Her visit also caused China to cancel all its communications with the United States and announced to suspend its ongoing talks on multiple international issues such as climate change, anti-drug trafficking systems, and military issues.
“In disregard of China’s grave concerns and firm opposition, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi insisted on visiting China’s Taiwan region. This constitutes gross interference in China’s internal affairs,” China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a statement.
“It gravely undermines China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously tramples on the one-China principle, and severely threatens peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the spokesman added.
In response, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou released a statement, claiming that “China was using Pelosi’s trip as a pretext for its aggressive actions and that this is merely an excuse to pressure Taiwan into peaceful reunification” with China.
“China launched military provocations on these grounds. This is absurd and a barbaric act, which also undermines regional stability and interferes with shipping and commercial activities in the Indo-Pacific region.” Ou said.
