Following the visit of U.S. House Speaker Pelosi to Taiwan, the Chinese military continued large-scale military exercises on the 5th, increasing military pressure on Taiwan.
On the other hand, the Chinese government has announced countermeasures such as suspending military talks with the United States, showing a strong stance on the Biden administration.
The Chinese military has been conducting large-scale exercises in a total of six sea and air areas surrounding Taiwan since the 4th, as a countermeasure against the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.
The Eastern Theater Command, which has jurisdiction over the East China Sea in the Chinese military, announced on the 5th that it had conducted practical joint exercises around Taiwan as planned.
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense also criticized numerous Chinese military aircraft and ships crossing the "median line" of the Taiwan Strait on the 5th, calling it a "grave provocation."
The exercise is scheduled to continue until the 7th, and the situation around Taiwan continues to be tense.
On the other hand, on the 5th, in addition to imposing sanctions on Chairman Pelosi and his family, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it would suspend military talks with the United States, such as dialogue between the U.S. and Chinese militaries, and temporarily suspend talks on climate change issues. We have announced countermeasures such as suspension.
China will show a strong stance toward the Biden administration, which is stepping up its involvement in the Taiwan issue,
to avoid being criticized for being weak domestically. You can
Expert "Japan is also very damaged by blockade such as Taiwan Strait"
Regarding the large-scale exercises that China is conducting around Taiwan, experts familiar with China's military situation are of the view that it is a punishment for Taiwan that accepted the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi before the Communist Party Congress in the latter half of this year. It also points out that if the Taiwan Strait is blocked, Japan will suffer a great deal of damage.
Bonji Kohara, a former Maritime Self-Defense Force officer and expert on China's military situation, gave an interview to NHK and analyzed the exercise.
Senior Research Fellow Kohara said, "Even if China thinks it cannot clash with the United States, it is in a situation where it must take some form of punitive action against Taiwan." He indicated that he held the exercise to avoid domestic criticism that he allowed Chairman Pelosi to visit Taiwan ahead of the Communist Party Congress in the latter half of the year.
He also said that through the exercise, it became clear what kind of strategy would be used if China actually invaded Taiwan. doing.
In addition, since Japan's EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) is also included in the sea area where the exercises are being conducted, "If the Taiwan Strait and the Bashi Strait, which support the distribution of goods to Japan, are blocked, Japan will be greatly damaged. I will receive it," he said.
On top of that, Senior Research Fellow Kohara said that if the danger increases further, Japan will need to think about how to evacuate the estimated maximum of about 50,000 Japanese residents in Taiwan, including tourists. pointed out.