Monday, August 8, 7:00 am: Despite its initial announcement that Chinese maneuvers around Taiwan were due to end on Sunday, the People’s Liberation Army resumed exercises on Monday. As reported by China’s state television, the air and sea combat exercises in the Taiwan Straits Straits focused on “joint operations against submarines and attack at sea”.
When the maneuvers were announced last Tuesday, China had originally promised a conclusion on Sunday. So far, however, no formal end has been announced. Rather, some Chinese commentators have suggested that the military exercises are taking place regularly and could become a new normal.
Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian called the maneuvers a “necessary warning” to the US and Taiwan on Monday. It was an “appropriate” response to their “provocations”. The tensions were “deliberately” created by the United States, with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveling to Taipei against opposition from Beijing.
The Chinese leadership rejects such official contacts from other countries to Taipei because it only sees the island as part of the People’s Republic. On the other hand, Taiwan has long seen itself as independent. With the maneuvers, the People’s Liberation Army practiced not only a sea and air blockade, but also a possible conquest of the island.
4.40 p.m .: FDP Secretary General Bijan Djir-Sarai calls for western sanctions against China’s leadership and economy in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan. “A Chinese military attack on Taiwan would be a devastating escalation of the status quo,” Djir-Sarai told Handelsblatt. “In this case, it would be important for the West to react immediately with personal and economic sanctions against China.”
He explained: “Of course, personal sanctions would have to hit the Chinese leadership, such as Chinese President Xi, high-ranking representatives from the party structures and those responsible in the military.” In addition, the economic sanctions would have to be based on those that Europe imposed on Russia , the newspaper continued to quote him.
“However, economic sanctions would not be a one-way street, but would also harm us enormously, since the mutual economic dependencies are simply too great,” said the FDP politician, who is also a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Bundestag. “That would be the price we would have to pay to credibly defend our freedom and our values.”
Djir-Sarai expressed concern. “I am convinced that there is a real danger that China wants to annex Taiwan,” he said.
Sunday, August 7, 8:21 a.m.: Against the background of the Chinese military maneuvers in Taiwan and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the United States has called on the states in the Pacific region to defend democracy. “It’s time to decide if we want governments that are transparent and accountable to their people,” Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman said on Sunday during a visit to the Solomon Islands.
The visit by the senior US official is part of a diplomatic offensive by the US, concerned about its dwindling influence in the region. This risk for Washington is particularly clear in the Solomon Islands: In April it became known that the island state and China had signed a far-reaching security agreement. The Solomonic government around Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare also took steps to restrict press freedom and toyed with the idea of postponing the elections.
US Deputy Secretary of State Sherman did not name any names during her visit to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal between the US and Japan, which was an ally of Nazi Germany. But she said that “some in the world” have forgotten the cost of wars or ignored the lessons of the past.
Sherman criticized “leaders who believe that coercion, coercion and violence are used with impunity” and revived “failed” ideas about their use. The struggle between such ideas and those of democratic states will last “for a while”. Solomon Islands Police and Security Minister Anthony Veke hailed the US’ “renewed engagement” in his country and the region. But he also called on Washington to remove unexploded ordnance from World War II much faster, the explosions of which are still killing people in the Solomon Islands today.
The US and Australia have long viewed with concern that China could set up a naval base in the South Pacific. This would allow the Chinese Navy to extend its power far beyond its borders.
During her visit, Sherman reiterated Washington’s will to strengthen cooperation with the “absolutely important” Pacific island states – including by opening US embassies in Tonga, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands. US President Joe Biden is also likely to invite heads of state and government to a meeting in the White House in September.
8:01 a.m .: Taiwan has accused China of simulating an attack on the main island of Taiwan during its military maneuvers. Taiwan’s armed forces have spotted numerous Chinese planes and ships in the Taiwan Strait region, some of which have crossed the unofficial China-Taiwan maritime border known as the Midline, the Defense Ministry in Taipei said on Saturday. The maneuvers were classified as a “simulation of an attack on Taiwan’s main island”.
In response to a visit to Taiwan by US top politician Nancy Pelosi, China began massive military maneuvers off the coast of Taiwan on Thursday, which are expected to last until Sunday. Numerous Chinese fighter jets and ships disregarded the unofficial sea border between China and Taiwan.
The US government called on China to stop the maneuvers on Friday. “The Chinese can do a lot to ease tensions simply by ending their provocative military drills and softening their tone,” said White House spokesman for the National Security Council John Kirby. The USA wanted to maintain its military contacts with the People’s Republic “at the highest level”.
Saturday August 6th 7:10 am: A very senior Taiwanese official in charge of rocket production was found dead in a hotel. Various media report this unanimously.
Accordingly, the scientist Ouyang Lixing made a trip to the Jiupeng base in Pingtung, a military base in Taiwan. He was to attend a festival in the morning. However, hotel staff found him dead in his room. The background is still unclear. However, Lixing is said to have been found with medicines in his hand, he is said to have suffered from cardiovascular disease.
According to the police, there was no evidence of external influence.
5.30 p.m .: Because of the Chinese military maneuvers off the coast of Taiwan, the US government has summoned the Chinese ambassador. Ambassador Qin Gang has been summoned to the White House, spokesman for the National Security Council in the White House, John Kirby, said on Friday in Washington. Kirby criticized the behavior of the People’s Republic as “provocative”.
“We have condemned the military actions of the People’s Republic of China, which are irresponsible and contrary to our long-standing goal of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” Kirby said. It was made clear to the ambassador that “Beijing’s actions are of concern to Taiwan, us and our partners around the world.” In addition, the United States had again emphasized: “Nothing has changed in our one-China policy.”
10:48 a.m.: China has imposed unspecified sanctions on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. As the Foreign Ministry reported on Friday in Beijing, the punitive measures are also aimed at direct family members of Pelosi.
Friday 7 a.m.: US House Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan has led to massive tensions with China. The Human Rights Committee of the Bundestag is now also planning a trip to Taiwan for the end of October. It should be applied for at the beginning of September at the latest at the parliamentary presidency, as the German press agency learned from several members of the committee.
The trip is not a reaction to the controversial visit by US MP Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, but had been planned for a long time. It is scheduled to take place between October 22nd and 30th and will go to Japan and Hong Kong in addition to Taiwan. One of them says that they don’t want to be deterred by a “threat-breathing dragon”.
4:05 p.m .: According to Japanese sources, five Chinese missiles fell during Beijing’s maneuvers off Taiwan in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). “This is a serious matter affecting our country’s national security and people’s security,” Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said on Thursday. Japan protested to the Chinese side. It is the first time a Chinese People’s Liberation Army missile has landed in Japanese EEZ waters.
In the conflict over Taiwan, on the same day, China unleashed the largest military show of force in decades. The maneuvers in six areas around the democratic island republic are aimed at an air and sea blockade. You could also be a model for violent conquest. According to Chinese information, rockets for “precision strikes” were also fired.
1:45 p.m .: In the conflict over the democratic island republic of Taiwan, China is getting support from its ally Russia in its controversial military maneuvers. “As for the maneuvers, that’s China’s sovereign right,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, according to the Interfax agency. Peskow once again criticized the visit of US top politician Nancy Pelosi to Taipei a few days ago, which Beijing sharply condemned. “It was a completely unnecessary visit and an unnecessary provocation,” said Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s spokesman.
China sees Taiwan as part of the People’s Republic. The island republic itself, on the other hand, has long seen itself as independent. In response to Pelosi’s visit, China staged the biggest military display in decades: Since Thursday, maneuvers have been in full swing in six areas around Taiwan. Long-range missiles were fired in the strait separating Taiwan from the mainland and east of the island.
Thursday, August 4, 2022, 8:20 a.m.: According to Chinese state television, China has started military maneuvers around Taiwan. The state media also recently clearly stated the concrete goals of the maneuvers: a sea and air blockade of the democratic island republic. A possible military conquest of Taiwan is also being practiced with it. Read more about the topic here: Threatening gestures after Pelosi’s visit – state television: China starts military maneuvers near Taiwan
6:54 p.m .: The G7 countries have sharply criticized China’s reaction to the visit of US leader Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. “There is no justification for using a visit as a pretext for aggressive military action across the Taiwan Strait,” the foreign ministers of the alliance said on Wednesday. “We are concerned about the recent and announced threats by the People’s Republic of China (…) which risk an unnecessary escalation.”
“It is normal and customary for MPs from our countries to travel internationally,” said the joint statement by the G7 foreign ministers, referring to the controversial visit to Taiwan by Pelosi, who is chair of the US House of Representatives. “The escalating response from the People’s Republic of China risks escalating tensions and destabilizing the region.”
Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) called for de-escalation during a visit to Canada. “De-escalation is the top priority in these times,” she said in Montréal.
Pelosi visited Taipei on Tuesday and Wednesday, pledged US solidarity to Taiwan. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province, and in response to the visit announced major military maneuvers in the waters around Taiwan. Dozens of Chinese warplanes entered Taiwan’s air defense zone.
Wednesday, August 3, 4:04 p.m.: On Wednesday afternoon, Chinese aircraft again entered Taiwan’s air defense zone. According to information from Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, there are 27 fighter jets. It is China’s next provocation after several planes entered the neighboring country’s airspace during yesterday’s visit by US politician Nancy Pelosi.
