On Monday, the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command released footage on China’s Weibo social-media platform showing several jet fighters taking off and Navy officers carrying out reconnaissance duties. A Chinese military spokesman said in an online statement that Sunday’s joint combat readiness patrol and live-firing drill was a response to “escalating collusion and provocation by the U.S. and Taiwan,” though he didn’t elaborate.

The Biden administration and Taiwan’s government separately criticized China’s military maneuvers, which the White House’s National Security Council called provocative. The Chinese action “is destabilizing, risks miscalculations, and undermines regional peace and stability,” the NSC said.

The action and rhetoric underscore Taiwan’s role as a longstanding source of tension in U.S.-China ties that complicates efforts by both powers to manage their fractious relations. President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed last month at their first in-person meeting to try to stabilize relations, with senior officials set to resume contacts. …

Beijing regards Taiwan as a part of China and has vowed to take control of the island, by force if necessary, while Washington is committed under U.S. law to assist Taiwan in maintaining its defenses. …

In response to Beijing’s latest military move, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said the flurry of activity revealed again Beijing’s use of force to resolve differences. It said that the collaboration between Washington and Taipei contributes to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region and that it will continue to strengthen its military preparedness. …

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(Excerpt from The Wall Street Journal. Photo Credit: Yan Ke on Unsplash)