The last time Taiwan’s president met a US House Speaker, China launched unprecedented military drills, simulating a complete attack on the island from missile bombardment to amphibious invasion.
But after President Tsai Ing-wen met Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week, China’s military response was more narrowly defined.
The People’s Liberation Army mainly practised preventing Washington and its allies from coming to Taipei’s rescue if Beijing did attack the country.
“This time, there was a big focus on anti-access and area denial,” said a senior Taiwanese government official, referring to a strategy of blocking US forces from entering and operating in airspace and waters close to China.
“There were a lot of simulated attacks on aerial and sea targets, focused on keeping forces out that would be arriving from outside the island chain.”
China’s latest three-day manoeuvres around Taiwan, launched on Saturday to punish the country for Tsai’s US trip, demonstrated Beijing’s desire to refine tactics crucial for an annexation while limiting the impact of its campaign.
Beijing briefly set off alarm in Taipei on Tuesday when it told officials it would impose a no-fly zone next week north of the island, in some of the world’s busiest airspace.
But a day later, it cut the planned three-day closure to just 27 minutes, a reversal that suggested some restraint.
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