Prior to the expected conclusion of four days of extraordinary Chinese military exercises undertaken in response to a travel to Taiwan by the United States house speaker, Chinese and Taiwanese vessels engaged in a high seas game of “cat and mouse” on Sunday.
After Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the self-governing island last week enraged China, it cut communication links with the United States and conducted its first-ever test launch of a ballistic missile over the island’s capital.
According to a person without knowledge of the situation, there were about 10 warships from China and Taiwan sailing side by side in the Taiwan Strait, with many Chinese ships breaching the middle line, an unofficial barrier that separates the two sides.
Chinese military drones, aircraft, and ships were acting out strikes on the island as well as its navy, according to a release from the island’s defence minister. It claimed to have sent ships and aircraft to respond “appropriately”.
The Taiwanese side remained close to the line as Chinese forces “pressed” it, as troops did on Saturday, to observe and, when possible, prevent the Chinese from crossing, the source added.
The individual claimed that both sides were acting with restraint and described the tactics as high seas “cat and mouse.”
“When one half tries to cross, the other side blocks them, pushing them into a worsened situation until they eventually turn around and go back to the other side.”
Taiwan declared that its Patriot surface-to-air missiles and shore-based anti-ship missiles were ready to deploy.
