Analysts Question Why China Didn't Announce Recent Drills

TaiwanPlus News

Despite fewer Chinese naval ships now operating around Taiwan, analysts are concerned that Beijing’s unannounced drills this week could be a new normal.

Transcript

00:00It's been three days since China wrapped up what could have been its largest military

00:05exercises in over three decades. Taiwan's defense ministry reported earlier this week

00:11that China had deployed its largest naval and coast guard fleet since 1996. But with

00:17military activity in the region decreasing, many observers are now asking why China, which

00:23usually shows off its military exercises, didn't make an official announcement. This

00:28is what Beijing had to say.

00:53But this has prompted debates about what China's real motive is.

00:57The last time China conducted large-scale military exercises, Beijing not only announced

01:03where and what it would be practicing, but also released a flurry of propaganda videos

01:09aimed at intimidating Taiwan, which it sees as part of its own.

01:13Analysts in Taiwan say that without a clear announcement, these suspected drills could

01:18be a show of force not just to Taiwan, but other countries in the region.

01:27The first island chain is a string of countries and islands stretching from Japan all the

01:50way down to the Philippines and near Vietnam. This chain is strategic for both the U.S. and

01:55China, as whoever controls this area could form a line of defense.

01:59But analysts in the U.S. say that the more countries affected, the less China can make

02:04Taiwan a domestic issue. This could be another reason why there was no announcement.

02:26Given how quickly Beijing was able to deploy

02:29its navy, some lawmakers from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party are concerned

02:35that China's unannounced military operations could be the start of a new normal.

02:56This new normal is a reality that Taiwan's military will have to adapt to as it now faces

03:05the challenge of China's unpredictable but constant military threats.

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