Chinese Military Exercises May Foreshadow a Blockade of Taiwan |
Economist: Chinese forces often rehearse an amphibious invasion of Taiwan. They recently tested new barge-borne bridges, which both expand the number of potential landing spots and get troops onto the ground faster. Recently, however, these D-Day drills have been supplemented by rehearsals for a full or partial naval blockade (see map). And underwater communications cables keep getting cut. In exercises in April called “Strait Thunder 2025A” (the name suggests more to come), China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it had practised, among other things, bombing ports and energy facilities. “If Taiwan loses its maritime supply lines, its domestic resources will quickly be depleted, social order will fall into chaos and people’s livelihoods will be severely impacted,” boasted a PLA officer in a propaganda video, standing on a set mimicking the deck of an aircraft-carrier (Economist). |
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