China launched its most extensive war games around Taiwan on Monday to showcase Beijing's ability to cut off the island from outside support in a conflict, testing Taipei's resolve to defend itself and its arsenal of U.S.-made weapons.

The Eastern Theatre Command said it had deployed troops, warships, fighter jets and artillery for its "Justice Mission 2025" exercises to encircle the democratically governed island, conduct live fire and simulated strikes on land and sea targets, and drills to blockade Taiwan's main ports.

The live-firing exercises will continue on Tuesday across a record seven zones designated by China's Maritime Safety Administration, making the drills the largest to date by total coverage and in areas closer to Taiwan than previous exercises. The military had initially said artillery firing would be confined to five zones.

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[+] -12 points 10 months ago (23 children)

From the article itself:

The exercises began 11 days after the U.S. announced $11.1 billion in arms sales to Taiwan

How is China the aggressor here? Imagine if Cuba suddenly imported $11bn in weapons from Russia, do you think that would warrant no reaction from the US administration?

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  • [–] 18 points 10 months ago* (21 children)

    "I had to kill him, officer, he was attending self defence classes with the intent to hit me."

    /s

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  • [+] -9 points 10 months ago (20 children)

    Who has China killed exactly by doing military training exercises?

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  • [–] 8 points 10 months ago* (11 children)

    Do you believe Taiwan is going to invade the PRC?

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  • [+] -7 points 10 months ago (10 children)

    No, but in the likely case of a USA-started miltary conflict or economic blockade of China in the region, Taiwan is essentially an unsinkable USA aircraft carrier full of military bases, and is likely to collaborate with USA aggression. After all, Taiwan routinely carries out similar military drills with the USA.

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  • [–] 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

    In the case of any superpower actually being invaded, nukes would start flying everywhere. It wouldn't make a lick of difference if any island has 5 or 500 airbases.

    Are you really this dense?

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  • [–] -1 points 10 months ago* (1 child)

    I did not say "China getting invaded" though, did I? I specified the possibility of a military blockade of China's seas

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  • [–] 4 points 10 months ago

    miltary conflict or economic blockade of China

    So we're just lying now?

    And the concept of China even being bothered by a blockade? Lmfao what year do you think this is? You think this is some WWII Pacific Theater where aircraft carriers and islands and air strips matter? China has about 9000 miles of mainland coast and all the technology and expertise to defend or strike from any part of it. Taiwan, as they've demonstrated, could be locked down (or glassed) at whim.

    If they didn't have the annexation ambition, they could wave goodbye to an independent Taiwan today and be close allies in a decade. You accuse the USA of buying Taiwan as a puppet but there is literally nothing stopping China from doing the same thing (with better leverage). Hell, they've already shown they can take that route in other small countries but pride and greed prevents them from doing it in Taiwan.

    The fact is that they want hostility and instability in the region in the same way that Russia wants instability in Europe and the USA wants it in the Middle East. Little islands waving guns is a great excuse to step in and start "liberating" resources people.

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  • [–] 7 points 10 months ago (6 children)

    She was asking for it, did you see what she was wearing?

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  • [–] -5 points 10 months ago (5 children)

    Oh, I wasn't aware that China actually invaded Taiwan! When did that happen? Oh, wait, it's only in your mind, I see.

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  • [–] 6 points 10 months ago (4 children)

    Ouch, you're unironically trying to play that card? Embarrassing.

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  • [–] -4 points 10 months ago (3 children)

    You're the one comparing a hypothetical to r*pe

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago (2 children)

    To hypothetical rape. And Russian soldiers raped Ukrainian women and kidnapped Ukrainian children to Russia too.

    Maybe formerly communist China will behave better than formerly communist Russia when they invade their smaller neighbour to try to pretend that their leader has a big dick.

    Why not stick to the improving lives of the Chinese people instead of wasting money and effort on a vanity war? China is one of the world's oldest civilisations, with one of the best long term planning governments the world over. Silly and short sighted to throw the maturity and respect away on a vanity war like Putin's war. Everyone used to think that Russia's land forces were unstoppable. Not any more. Woe to China if it follows someone as vain as Putin to think that war is simple and short. USA keeps having to learn that lesson over and over b feverish their leaders are short sighted and they think that because their military is the strongest they can easily and quickly win wars and change countries to be like them. They're wrong. Every stupid war they start ends up with them looking weaker. Putin made the same mistake. Why would wise old China follow the idiots to the fool's gold?

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  • [–] 5 points 10 months ago (7 children)

    Just like Russia was doing completely innocent military exercises near the Ukrainian border in the run up to waging all out years long war on its much smaller neighbour. Oops, sorry, no, you don't call it that, you call it a three day "special military operation".

    /s in case you missed it.

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  • [–] 0 points 10 months ago (6 children)

    Again the angry boy complaining about the imaginary invasion of Taiwan!!

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  • [–] 3 points 10 months ago (5 children)

    Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

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  • [–] -2 points 10 months ago (4 children)

    You say this while supporting a military US ally?

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  • [–] 3 points 10 months ago (3 children)

    You say this while supporting Russia?!

    I support the invaded countries. You support the invaders.

    What Israel is doing in Gaza is abhorrent.

    What Russia is doing in Ukraine is terrible.

    What China is planning to do in Taiwan is awful.

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  • [–] -2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

    You don't support the invaded countries. Taiwan is a land illegitimstely invaded by the Kuomintang and its citizens deserve to be liberated from western puppeteering. You support the western manufactured continuation of the island's government because you align with the west.

    Have you once expressed your support of Gaddafi in this website against western invasion and meddling? Your support of Cuba and Venezuela? Your support of Mosaddeq in Iran? Your support of Lenin against external invasion by England, France, Germany, Italily and the USA during the Russian civil war? Your support of Jacobo Árbenz in Guatemala? You dont support the invaded countries, you support what the western agenda tells you to support

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago (1 child)

    Taiwan is a land illegitimstely invaded by the Kuomintang and its citizens deserve to be liberated from western puppeteering.

    By "liberated", you mean invaded by a larger neighbour against the demonstrable will of the population, so no, they don't deserve that.

    Have you once expressed your support of Gaddafi in this website against western invasion and meddling?

    No; he died before this website existed.

    Your support of Cuba and Venezuela?

    Cuba I support; they've shown how socialised healthcare can be far more effective and inexpensive than involving the private sector, and have held their own despite long term agitation, interference and intimidation by their large neighbour.

    Venezuela I know less about. I knew a Venezuelan expat who left because he felt unsafe as a mixed race resident, but I'm afraid that that sort of persecution is all too common in lots of countries, and it's getting worse b because of the rise of the far right at Putin's intervention.

    Your support of Lenin against external invasion by England, France, Germany, Italily and the USA during the Russian civil war?

    A bit before my time, that one, I think. I'm inclined to disbelieve you on it, I'm afraid, because your takes on current world events fly in the face of facts and logic, so feel free to point me to Wikipedia to put me straight if it's just a British cover up of yet one more awful act of our awful track record of imperial nastiness.

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  • [–] 1 point 10 months ago

    Soooo China is building sophisticated, highly specialized barges for establishing a beachhead without a harbor and moving heavy machinery across. These would be pretty helpful in a sustained campaign against Taiwan.

    These ships happen to be able to connect to the many Chinese "civilian" roll on-roll off (roro) ferries that are built to military spec and can handle Chinese tanks.

    These "civilian" roros happen to participate in military exercises.

    Considering this all took place well before the arms deal, that's probably a good reason why China can be considered the aggressor. Maybe the $11.1 billion in arms deals is in response to that?

    There's also xi jinping saying that the unification of Taiwan and China is "unstoppable" in a speech today, right after these military exercises.

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