China and Taiwan Announce Live-Fire Drills in the Northern East China Sea

Photo by Global Times

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomideum] China has announced live-fire drills in the East China Sea north of Taiwan. This is interpreted as a protest measure against the visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan.

According to the website of the China Maritime Safety Administration on the 21st, the Zhejiang Maritime Safety Administration announced through navigation safety information that live ammunition firing drills will be conducted in the East China Sea from 2 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 22nd. The administration added that ships are prohibited from entering the rectangular training area.

The four locations announced by the Zhejiang Maritime Safety Administration are off the coast of Taizhou City, Zhejiang Province, not far from the northern waters of Taiwan.

Since Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, China has expanded its training areas not only near Taiwan but also in the East China Sea, South China Sea, and even the West Sea near the Korean Peninsula.

Previously, the Tangshan Maritime Safety Administration prohibited ship entry while conducting live-fire drills in the Bohai Bay area from the 19th to the 25th, and the Shandong Maritime Safety Administration did the same in the Weifang Port area of Bohai Bay from the 19th to the 21st.

The Weihai Maritime Safety Administration also announced military activities in the West Sea (Yellow Sea) from the 17th to the 19th, and the Dalian Maritime Safety Administration recently announced military missions in the northern waters of the West Sea.

Some analysts suggest that these military training exercises may also be intended to respond to the South Korea-U.S. joint military drills.