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.

    • Log in | Sign up@lemmy.world
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      6 hours ago

      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.

        • stickly@lemmy.world
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          3 hours ago

          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?

          • Socialism_Everyday@reddthat.com
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            4 hours ago

            I did not say “China getting invaded” though, did I? I specified the possibility of a military blockade of China’s seas

            • stickly@lemmy.world
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              3 hours 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.

        • cygnus@lemmy.ca
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          14 hours ago

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

          • Socialism_Everyday@reddthat.com
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            14 hours ago

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

            • cygnus@lemmy.ca
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              14 hours ago

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

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                  6 hours ago

                  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?