7th April 2023 – (Beijing) Live-fire military drills took place near the delta of the Pearl River in Guangdong Province, China, on Friday, according to Chinese authorities. While the statement did not explicitly mention Taiwan, it was seen as a response to President Tsai Ing-wen’s recent meeting with United States House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California on Wednesday, as reported by the Liberty Times.
The live-fire drills resulted in ships being ordered to stay out of a restricted area near the delta between Hong Kong and Macau from 11am to 3pm on Friday. This move by China has raised tensions in the region, as it is seen as a show of force and a display of military capabilities.
Adding to the tensions, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) published a picture of the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong passing through the Bashi Channel before moving into the Pacific east of Taiwan on Wednesday. This has raised concerns in Taiwan as it indicates China’s increasing military presence in the region.
The live-fire drills conducted by China are widely viewed as a reaction to President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The meeting, which took place in California on 5th April, was seen as a significant move in strengthening Taiwan’s ties with the United States, a move that China sees as a threat to its sovereignty over Taiwan.
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