EXCLUSIVE -

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense said it is determined to "uphold the sovereignty and guard the land" and is standing by relentlessly "in order to protect the state".

"We do not seek escalation, but we dedicate ourselves to freedom, democracy, stability and security of the region around us," she added in a tweet via Twitter.

This statement comes against the backdrop of the start of the largest Chinese military exercises in the vicinity of the island of Taiwan, which received Tuesday evening, US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Beijing has threatened "serious consequences" as a result of this visit to the self-ruled island, which China claims it belongs to.

"China's countermeasures will not be a one-off, but a combination of long-term, resolute and steadily advanced measures," the local newspaper, "Global Times", said in an editorial.

Intense Chinese military exercises off Taiwan after the US House Speaker's visit to the autonomous island (French)

Taiwan Corridor Training

Analysts estimate that the exercises will be larger than those conducted in 1996 in the run-up to the re-election of Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui, who visited the United States a year earlier.

The recent military moves are concentrated in six areas:

  • The northwestern exercise area is on Ping Tan Island, the narrowest part of the Taiwan Strait, and the People's Liberation Army (Chinese Army) can deploy its forces to block the northern entrance to the Taiwan Strait.

  • As for the two marin areas in northern Taiwan, they can close the Keelung port directly.

  • The exercise area is in the eastern part of the island of Taiwan, directly targeting the Hualien and Taitung military bases in Taiwan, forming a forward offensive stance.

  • Other exercises southeast of the island of Taiwan make the Kenting Peninsula a target, where the Bashi Strait is.

  • The exercise area is southwest of Taiwan near Kaohsiung and Zhuying, which means that the entire exercise is an encirclement of this island.


deterring outside forces

Naval Academy researcher Zhang Junxi says that many of the previous PLA exercises were mostly conducted along the coast of the mainland, but the area of ​​these exercises crossed the so-called "middle line" and one of their aims was to deter outside powers.

He pointed out, in an intervention to a local newspaper, that "the northern exercise area is adjacent to the Japanese region of Okinawa, and the southern part is adjacent to the Bashi Strait, which constitutes a strategic plan that rejects external forces."

On the other hand, Song Chung Ping, a military commentator from Hong Kong, believes that the People's Liberation Army will besiege the island if it is forced to do so in a subsequent war.

He added to Al Jazeera Net that the goal of these exercises is to prepare for military combat with Taiwan.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan marked a major escalation between Washington and Beijing (Anatolia)

out of control

Concerns are growing that the fast-moving situation could lead to an accidental confrontation that could spiral out of control.

While Beijing says the military exercises are a "stern deterrence" against the United States over Taiwan and a "serious warning" to supporters of the island's independence, Taiwan's Defense Ministry asserts that it will "respond appropriately at the appropriate time", accusing China of "undermining regional peace and stability".

Most analysts believe that China's moves may not directly threaten US naval forces in the region, but they may increase the possibility of miscalculation and also increase the possibility of Taiwan responding to what Taipei calls "dangerous provocations."

Military expert Ting Hong notes that the Chinese military exercises will bring great pressure on the Taiwanese army.

He explained - to Al Jazeera Net - that the lack of trust between the two sides of the strait and the lack of experience in dealing with crises may lead to an escalation of tensions in the event of a minor accident.


response limits

Although it maintains formal diplomatic relations with Beijing, the United States is Taiwan's most important international backer, and is obligated by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

Victor Gao, president of the Chinese Society for International Studies, comments that the United States of America is trying in every region to have the cake for itself.

He added - in an interview with Al Jazeera - that Washington, which recognized the Chinese Republic in 1979, must choose between this recognition and recognition of Taiwan.

On the limits of the Chinese reaction to what Beijing considers an American provocation, Gao mentioned the possibility of expelling Washington's ambassador from Beijing, and refraining from helping the United States in economic issues, stressing that Beijing is ready to defend the "one China" policy at all costs.