China expands Taiwan military exercises

The People’s Liberation Army, the Chinese Communist Party’s military arm, said Monday its next wave of exercises surrounding the island will include anti-submarine drills. Chinese authorities have said the exercises up to this point have been a response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to self-governing Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. Taiwan’s defense ministry said Sunday that it detected 66 aircraft and 14 warships from China’s military conducting the exercises.

How is Taiwan responding? The island’s military is on alert and is deploying ships, planes, and other assets to monitor Chinese aircraft, ships, and drones. Taiwan’s official Central News Agency said the army will conduct live-fire military drills—that will include snipers, armored vehicles, and attack helicopters—in the island’s Pingtung county on Tuesday and Thursday.

Dig deeper: Read Angela Lu Fulton’s report from the WORLD archives about the United States reconsidering how to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.