Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Taiwan holds military drills in light of tensions with China

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 11 Aug 2022 11:03
4 Min Read

The Taiwanese military launched live-fire military exercises in the Taiwan Strait as tensions soar with China over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the Island.

  • x
  • Soldier in an artillery unit takes part in the live fire Han Kuang military exercise in Pingtung, Taiwan, May 30, 2019 (Reuters)
    Soldier in an artillery unit takes part in the live fire Han Kuang military exercise in Pingtung, Taiwan, May 30, 2019 (Reuters)

The Taiwanese military held on Thursday yet another round of live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait after the Chinese army concluded its drills in the South China Sea in light of tensions with Taipei over US regional interference.

China announced carrying out fresh military drills around Taiwan Monday, days after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island escalated tensions between the two powers.

Read more: China vows effective response to Pelosi Taiwan visit

Pelosi's visit led China to announce ending cooperation with the United States on a number of issues such as climate change, anti-drug efforts, and military talks.

What was significant about the visit is that it came at a time of great tensions between Beijing and Washington over Taiwan, and it would mark the first visit made by a US House Speaker to the island since 1997.

The Taiwanese armed forces fired howitzers and target flares as part of the military exercises on Thursday morning, Lou Woei-jye, spokesperson for Taiwan's Eight Army Corps, told AFP.

The spokesperson said the exercise kicked off in the Pingtung country and lasted for about an hour starting at 8:30 am local time.

A live stream of the military drills showed artillery systems lined up side by side on the island's coast, with units of armed soldiers firing the howitzers into the sea.

Similar drills took place on Tuesday in Pingtung, with both exercises involving hundreds of troops, Taipei announced.

Related News

Putin open to meeting Zelensky pending expert-level talks: Peskov

Pro-'Israel' Democrats breaking with Netanyahu amid Gaza war

The Taiwanese military is trying to play down the significance of the exercises, claiming that they were already scheduled for these dates and had nothing to do with the island's tensions with Beijing.

"We have two goals for the drills, the first is to certify the proper condition of the artillery and their maintenance condition, and the second is to confirm the results of last year," Lou said.

Taiwan's exercises came less than a day after the Chinese military said its drills ended on Wednesday after its forces "successfully completed various tasks" in the Taiwan Strait, vowing to continue patrolling its waters.

The statement also said the Chinese military would continue carrying out military training "and prepare for war."

In a multi-decadal first, Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office issued a white book on the island, saying it would "not renounce the use of force" against Taiwan, preserving "the option of taking all necessary measures."

"We are ready to create vast space for peaceful reunification, but we will leave no room for separatist activities in any form," it said in the paper. The last time Beijing issued a white book on Taiwan was in 2000.

The document titled "The Taiwan Question and China's Reunification in the New Era" was jointly prepared and published by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the State Council Information Office of China. Beijing regularly publishes white papers to clarify its policy on various pressing issues.

The document warned that "Separatism will plunge Taiwan into the abyss and bring nothing but disaster to the island," indicating that in order "To protect the interests of the Chinese nation as a whole, including our compatriots in Taiwan, we must resolutely oppose it and work for peaceful reunification."

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi previously stressed that China will leave no room for the pro-Taiwanese independence forces as the reunification of Taiwan with China is historically inevitable and all attempts to use Taiwan to contain China are doomed to failure.

Right ahead of Pelosi's trek into Taiwan, data for naval and aerial tracking showed the US has deployed naval and aerial military assets, with military ships and jets being drawn closer to Taiwan.

Media reported that the assets included the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, which was previously in Singapore, the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and the amphibious assault ship USS America, which were near Japan, as well as over 30 other warships, three submarines, and several fighter aircraft. 

  • United States
  • Taiwan
  • Taiwan strait
  • South China Sea
  • Nancy Pelosi
  • People's Liberation Army
  • China

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS