The Five “DUMB BOMBS” with which PLA wanted to thwart Pelosi’s Taiwan visit
In response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island of Taiwan, China conducted military exercises off its coast opposite Taiwan island. Taiwanese media talked of the live-fire drills near Pingtan in Fuzhou, East China’s Fujian Province on Saturday, Some Western media reported that between July 29 to August 2, China conducted at least five military drills in its surrounding waters.
The Chinese government has repeatedly expressed its strong opposition to Pelosi’s potential visit in recent days. In the telephone call with US President Joe Biden on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that “Those who play with fire will perish by it.”
Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, warned on Tuesday that if the US side insists on making the visit, the Chinese military will take strong actions to thwart any external interference or “Taiwan independence” separatist scheme, and will be resolute in safeguarding China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It can be said these were China’s most strong-worded remarks against the US on the Taiwan question in recent years.
Meanwhile what was being being guestimated all over the world that what kind of measures China will take, especially the PLA, to thwart Nancy’s visit to Republic of Taiwan, a free country on the World map.
As it was, the US military was “moving aircraft carriers and sending fighter planes for close air support” as a measure to protect Pelosi’s delegation, said Washington Post on July 23. China and the US seemed to be nearly at swords’ points.
It is believed that the Central Military Commission and Joint Staff Department of PLA went into a huddle for planning and deployment its forces. Options considered were to send military planes to track and monitor the incoming plane of Nancy Pelosi.
The second action to be done was to establish a no-fly zone in the Taiwan Straits, prohibiting Pelosi’s plane from landing in Taiwan. Though PLA knew that trying to do this was acutely risky and would surely lead to a shooting war. However as a bluster, China dis issue a warning on this line.
The third action to be done was to send military aircraft flying across the island of Taiwan, which would definitely lead to their interception by Taiwanese Air Force resulting in severe retaliation on China itself.
The fourth action to be done was to launch ballistic missiles around the Taiwan Straits. It would send a warning to the World that the situation over the Taiwan Straits has reached the brink of war, and would thus prevent Pelosi’s plane from arriving in Taiwan. Also PLAAF would be declaring by declaring a no-fly and no-navigation zone.
The fifth was to conduct aggressive military exercises surrounding the Taiwan Straits.
Amongst the above mentioned five actions, the first four had a common defect, that is, they lacked flexible control over crisis disposal; thus the possibility of adoption was relatively small. So the clever by half PLA tried military drills, to advance and retreat freely and take the initiative to deal with crises. Amid the exercises, they have also tried to violate the Taiwanese Air Defence Zone.
It’s reported that China has begun its military exercises near its surrounding waters. After Pelosi landing in Taiwan, there has been a large-scale joint military exercise between the army, navy and air force. However now the World sees it as only letting out the GAS from the bag.
Also as usual China has “ solemnly “ pointed out that “We are fully prepared for any eventuality. If the US side insists on making the visit, the Chinese side will take firm and strong measures to safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
In 1967, India had called the Chinese bluff at Nathu La and had given it a very bloody nose. PLA’s bluff was once again called at Doklam and later in the Galwan Valley.
