After the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, China begins large-scale maneuvers around Taiwan. The intimidation tactic makes the US take action. She sends two warships to the region.
Amid ongoing tensions over Taiwan, two US warships crossed the Taiwan Strait on Sunday. This "underlines the commitment of the United States to a free and open Indo-Pacific," the US Navy said. It was the first time US warships had passed through the strait between mainland China and the island in days of Chinese military maneuvers of historically unprecedented proportions in the waters around Taiwan.
Tensions between Beijing and Taipei, but also between Beijing and Washington, had grown following a visit to Taiwan by US leader Nancy Pelosi earlier this month. After the visit, China's army held its largest military maneuvers to date in the waters around the island and also fired missiles. Taiwan also held exercises and presented new fighter jets.
Since the split between China and Taiwan in 1949, Beijing has viewed the island as a breakaway territory that it wants to reunite with the mainland - if necessary using military force. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has raised fears that Beijing could use a similar approach in its dealings with Taiwan.
