26/05/2023
Photo: Reuters.
On April 8-10, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted the “Joint Sword” exercises - a three-day military drill around Taiwan. The exercise took place after the U.S. transit of Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen and her meeting with the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy on April 5. This visit happened at the same time as former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou’s 12 day-visit to China, which started on March 27.
When comparing this exercise with the one after former U.S. House Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022, several differences stand out.
These moves suggest that the situation this time is not as tense as the last.
From mainland China’s perspective, by inviting Tsai’s predecessor Ma Ying-jeou to visit China in 12 days, it seems that China also did not want to complicate the situation. Ma’s mainland visit can convey China’s message that Beijing wants to soften its attitude towards Taiwan.” In addition, this message also aims to keep Taiwanese nationalism from rising in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
As such, China’s three-day exercise may only be an “inevitable” action in Beijing’s viewpoint, not an escalation.
The commentary is originally published here
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