China to hold military drills with neighbor — Analysis
Sunday’s Falcon Strike 2022 is a joint Thai-Chinese air force exercise.
Chinese fighter jets, bombers, and airborne early warning aircraft will be dispatched to Thailand for joint exercises, China’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
According to a ministry statement, drills for the 2020 Falcon Strike will take place on Sunday at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base near Udorn’s border with Laos.
These activities will include air support, strikes against ground targets and troop deployments of small and large scale, the company said.
This is the purpose of the exercise. “to enhance mutual trust and friendship between the air forces of the two countries, deepen practical cooperation and promote the continuous development of China-Thailand comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership,”The ministry stated.
The games will take place in an atmosphere of tension and conflict in the Indo-Pacific following Nancy Pelosi’s August visit to Taiwan. China, who views Taiwan as a self-governed territory, was furious at this move. They responded by holding the largest naval and air force drills ever around Taiwan.
Joint exercises are being held by the US and Singaporean forces in Indonesia. By taking part in the drills – Super Garuda Shield – the countries involved are signaling their stronger ties amid Beijing’s attempts to expand its influence in the region, the US Indo-Pacific commander, Admiral John C. Aquilino, said on Friday.
“The destabilizing actions by China as it applied to the threatening activities and actions against Taiwan is exactly what we are trying to avoid,”Aquilino stated that America will continue to be a strong partner. “continue to help deliver a free and open Indo-Pacific and be ready when we need to respond to any contingency.”
The US has recognized Beijing since 1979 as China’s only legitimate authority, but it maintains strong, informal ties to Taiwan. It sells weapons to Taipei, and supports its quest for independence.
The Chinese authorities have long protested these efforts, saying they infringe on China’s sovereignty and only increase tensions in the region, while also promising to act resolutely to protect its territorial integrity.
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