Is the PLA rehearsing operations to keep US forces out of a Taiwan conflict?
Recent mainland Chinese naval deployments in the western Pacific and South China Sea have raised questions over whether Beijing is rehearsing operations to stop US and allied forces from intervening in a Taiwan conflict, according to analysts. Beijing has not announced any large-scale drill in relation to recent People’s Liberation Army (PLA) naval activities. But a November 6 assessment by…
Recent PLA naval deployments in the western Pacific and South China Sea have raised concerns that China may be rehearsing operations to prevent US and allied forces from intervening in a Taiwan conflict, according to analysts. While Beijing has not announced any large-scale drills, a November 6 assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggested that the PLA could be conducting a major exercise simulating the isolation of Taiwan, with warships positioned to deter or prevent outside intervention.
The scale of the deployments, with over 100 vessels reported, and the presence of naval formations farther into the Pacific rather than just around Taiwan suggest the aim is to stop US and allied forces from reaching the island during a conflict.
Brief written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
