China launched its most extensive war games around Taiwan on Monday to showcase Beijing’s ability to cut off the island from outside support in a conflict, testing Taipei’s resolve to defend itself and its arsenal of U.S.-made weapons.

The Eastern Theatre Command said it had deployed troops, warships, fighter jets and artillery for its “Justice Mission 2025” exercises to encircle the democratically governed island, conduct live fire and simulated strikes on land and sea targets, and drills to blockade Taiwan’s main ports.

The live-firing exercises will continue on Tuesday across a record seven zones designated by China’s Maritime Safety Administration, making the drills the largest to date by total coverage and in areas closer to Taiwan than previous exercises. The military had initially said artillery firing would be confined to five zones.

  • Socialism_Everyday@reddthat.com
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    22 hours ago

    From the article itself:

    The exercises began 11 days after the U.S. announced $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan

    How is China the aggressor here? Imagine if Cuba suddenly imported $11bn in weapons from Russia, do you think that would warrant no reaction from the US administration?

    • Log in | Sign up@lemmy.world
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      22 hours ago

      “I had to kill him, officer, he was attending self defence classes with the intent to hit me.”

      /s

        • Log in | Sign up@lemmy.world
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          10 hours ago

          Just like Russia was doing completely innocent military exercises near the Ukrainian border in the run up to waging all out years long war on its much smaller neighbour. Oops, sorry, no, you don’t call it that, you call it a three day “special military operation”.

          /s in case you missed it.

            • stickly@lemmy.world
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              7 hours ago

              In the case of any superpower actually being invaded, nukes would start flying everywhere. It wouldn’t make a lick of difference if any island has 5 or 500 airbases.

              Are you really this dense?

              • Socialism_Everyday@reddthat.com
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                8 hours ago

                I did not say “China getting invaded” though, did I? I specified the possibility of a military blockade of China’s seas

                • stickly@lemmy.world
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                  7 hours ago

                  miltary conflict or economic blockade of China

                  So we’re just lying now?

                  And the concept of China even being bothered by a blockade? Lmfao what year do you think this is? You think this is some WWII Pacific Theater where aircraft carriers and islands and air strips matter? China has about 9000 miles of mainland coast and all the technology and expertise to defend or strike from any part of it. Taiwan, as they’ve demonstrated, could be locked down (or glassed) at whim.

                  If they didn’t have the annexation ambition, they could wave goodbye to an independent Taiwan today and be close allies in a decade. You accuse the USA of buying Taiwan as a puppet but there is literally nothing stopping China from doing the same thing (with better leverage). Hell, they’ve already shown they can take that route in other small countries but pride and greed prevents them from doing it in Taiwan.

                  The fact is that they want hostility and instability in the region in the same way that Russia wants instability in Europe and the USA wants it in the Middle East. Little islands waving guns is a great excuse to step in and start “liberating” resources people.

            • cygnus@lemmy.ca
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              17 hours ago

              She was asking for it, did you see what she was wearing?