China started to carry out the biggest ever military drills in a reaction to the visit of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States to Taiwan. While it was supposed to end its military drills, China has decided to continue it for several more days, though it has reduced the extent of the military drills around Taiwan, a self-ruled country that China claims as its part, by considering the drills to be successful in completing a test of its military capabilities. The drills led to increased tension between China and Taiwan, which later started military drills in response to China’s drills. Consequently, tension has increased further between the counties.
Of course, military drills are not surprising at all since many countries carry out military drills. These are, moreover, needed for familiarizing the military with weapons, making the capacity to move the military from one place to another quickly, testing the combat capability of troops, the improvement of the capacity in defending against aggression and many other reasons. Sometimes, military drills are carried out jointly by two or more countries, sometimes these are carried out by a single country. Without military exercises, any military may lose its battle and fail to act as a unit and separate units when the native country is attacked by any foreign force. But some military drills create tensions while others do not, depending on the aims of the drills and associated situations.
But the current military drills that probably intend to keep pressure upon Taiwan have raised tensions because it reflects an overreaction to Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan and it is the biggest ever military drills of the country that used live missiles in a tense situation, some of which flew over Taipei and simulated sea and air attacks in the skies and waters around the island country, along with associated threat over Taiwan by China. The overreaction to Pelosi’s visit probably indicates China’s seriousness in its intention to make sure that Taiwan does not act as a separate country. Moreover, the threat to attack has become a cause of concern for Taiwan since it is frequently mentioned by China that wants to make Taiwan its part.
China, which is one of the superpowers in the world, may not attack Taiwan at this moment because China may not take the risk of the effects on its economy by attacking Taiwan. Yet, it is desired that China acts more responsibly. It is also desired that the military drills that China carries out to train and prepare for combat and organize regular combat readiness patrols in the direction of the Taiwan Strait remain as drills only and do not lead to conflicts between the countries.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
