Taiwan

China is upping the ante against Taiwan amid another US congressional delegation visit to the self-governed island.

This was stated today by the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Wenbin.
"The measures we have taken are a response to the visit to Taiwan by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi. China's response is justified and legitimate and serves as a warning to instigators and a lesson to Taiwanese separatists," Wang said.

China said Aug. 8 it was extending threatening military exercises surrounding Taiwan that have disrupted shipping and air traffic and substantially raised concerns about the potential for conflict in a region crucial to global trade.

As China continue to hold military drills near Taiwan's coast after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent visit to Taipei, President Tsai Ing-wen has appealed for international support for the island nation and halt the escalation of the regional security situation.

Taiwan accused the Chinese army of simulating an attack on its main island on Aug. 6, as Beijing continued its retaliation for US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Taipei visit.

Relations between the two superpowers nosedived following Pelosi's trip to China's self-ruled neighbour -- which it claims as its territory -- prompting calls from the UN for an urgent de-escalation of tensions.

Multiple Chinese planes and ships were detected around Taiwan Strait, simulating an attack on its main island, the defense Ministry said on Saturday adding that some of them have crossed the median line.

"We will not allow them to isolate Taiwan. They are not making our road plan, and the US-Taiwan partnership is strong," Pelosi said, "The Guardian" reported.
She claims that China has tried to isolate Taiwan and that her visit to Taipei is "an excuse for Beijing to conduct military exercises near the island".

The ministry assesses that China's military exercises are extremely provocative, "whether it launches ballistic missiles or deliberately crosses the center line of the strait," reports Reuters. Some world media reports that Chinese forces have encircled Taiwan.

Taiwan blasted its "evil neighbour next door" on Aug. 5 after China encircled the island with a series of huge military drills that were condemned by the United States and other Western allies.

During Thursday's military exercises, which continued Friday, China fired ballistic missiles and deployed both fighter jets and warships around Taiwan.

According to the world media, China allegedly launched 11 ballistic missiles in waters near Taiwan, the country's defense ministry announced. Also, information emerged that he raised fighter jets in response to military exercises by the Chinese army.