NEW DELHI: The intensity of China’s air and naval drills around Taiwan were less this time compared to previous occasions, says Dr. Shen Ming Shi, director of security research at the INDSR think tank in Taiwan. In this conversation on The Gist, Dr Shen believes China needed to send a message in the wake of the Taiwan president’s visit to the US, but at the same time, it did not want to take away from the visit of Taiwan’s former president Ma Ying-jeou, to China. China’s top military and political leadership is probably aware that any invasion of Taiwan would require a joint operation, which is extremely complex and the latter’s ability to carry it out is doubtful. Add to that, while the US maintains official neutrality on whether it would come to Taiwan’s aid in the event of a Chinese attack, statements by President Biden suggest it will. There are also US military personnel in Taiwan, training local military personnel. Tune in for more in this conversation with Dr Shen Ming-Shih.
