High alert in the Taiwan Strait: Chinese and US armies are preparing for Pelosi's visit
The aircraft carrier USSR Ronald Reagan is in the Philippine Sea, east of Taiwan and south of Japan.
Alongside her, the guided missile cruiser USSR Antietam and the destroyer USSR Higgins.
On the other hand, Chinese warships and fighter planes in "extremely provocative" maneuvers
news agencies
02/08/2022
Tuesday, 02 August 2022, 11:59 Updated: 13:00
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On video: in preparation for Pelosi's visit to Taiwan - the Chinese army practices shooting and Taiwanese go into shelters (Photo: Reuters)
The Speaker of the American House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi is expected to arrive in Taiwan today (Tuesday). Against the background of harsh warnings from China and rising tensions in the region, the United States placed four warships, including an aircraft carrier, in the waters east of the island as part of "routine activity".
The aircraft carrier USSR Ronald Reagan crossed the South China Sea and is now in the Philippine Sea, east of Taiwan and south of Japan, a senior US Navy official confirmed to Reuters. USSR Ronald Reagan is operating alongside the guided-missile cruiser USSR Antietam and the destroyer USSR Higgins. "Although they can respond to any scenario, this is routine activity. ", the source said. According to him, the amphibious assault ship USSR Tripoli is also in the area.
Nancy Pelosi in luck, before the visit to Taiwan (Photo: Reuters)
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China is also preparing for a military visit.
In addition to Chinese aircraft, Chinese warships were also stationed in the waters of the Taiwan Strait (a strait between the Chinese province of Fujian to the west and the island of Taiwan to the east, and connecting the South China Sea to its south and the East China Sea to its north).
According to a source, the Chinese warships and fighter jets conducted "extremely provocative" maneuvers this morning.
On the other hand, Taiwanese planes are on standby for any scenario.
The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense said today that it has full control over military activities near Taiwan and will send troops if necessary in response to "enemy threats."
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The aircraft carrier USSR Ronald Reagan (Photo: Reuters)
In the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen, which faces Taiwan and has a large military presence, residents reported armored vehicles moving in the area and uploaded photos to social media.
The Chinese army conducted several exercises in the past week in South China and the Yellow Sea.
According to military commentators, the increased activity during tensions increases the chance of accidents, even if the parties do not want a real military confrontation.
China also announced a series of war games in the South China Sea that will begin today and last until Saturday.
Local air traffic in Fujian, the closest Chinese province to Taiwan, has been disrupted - a sign that the airspace is being prepared for military activity.
The patrols of the Chinese navy in the waters along the eastern coast of Taiwan, which is considered a weak point of the island, have also been increased in the last ten days.
According to the Japanese military, a frigate, a guided-missile destroyer and reconnaissance ships have been sailing near Japan's southeastern islands in recent days.
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The residents of Taipei are preparing for war (Photo: Reuters)
The residents of Taipei are preparing for war (Photo: Reuters)
The residents of Taipei are preparing for war (Photo: Reuters)
If China sends fighter jets to intercept Pelosi's plane, the U.S. Air Force and Navy could send fighters from ships at sea, or from U.S. bases in the region, to thwart it. A U.S. source said the Pentagon has not changed schedules to protect Pelosi.
"There was no change in the schedule. This is why there are forces in the area and why we support the deployment of forces there, because they do not need to be reinforced in the event of a crisis," the official told the Financial Times.
John Kirby, the spokesman for the National Security Council at the White House, warned China yesterday not to turn Pelsoy's visit to Taiwan into "an excuse to increase the aggressive military presence around the Taiwan Strait."
According to him, a possible American military response includes launching missiles into the Taiwan Strait, large sorties of fighter jets into "Taiwan's airspace", as well as sending warships towards Taiwan.
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