1. Large fleet incursions into Taiwanese airspace
Chinese fighter planes keep infiltrating Taiwan’s airspace every day. But most of these disputes occur in the area of the Taiwan strain. Taiwan and China have different claims regarding air limits in the region. But China may send its largest ever fighter jet into Taiwanese airspace in response to Pelosi’s visit. The previous record is 56 PLA aircraft as on 4 October 2021. After the visit of a US congressional delegation in November last year to China, about 15 planes flew east of Taiwan instead of the usual southwest routes.
2. Flying a Chinese fighter plane over Taiwan
The Communist Party’s Global Times newspaper has suggested that China should conduct a military flight directly over Taiwan. President Tsai Ing-wen’s government must be forced to decide whether to topple it. Last year, Taiwan’s Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng warned: ‘The closer they get to the island, the stronger we will retaliate.’ In such a situation, if Taiwan fires on a Chinese fighter plane, then it can also create a war-like situation between the two countries. When the then US Secretary of State Keith Krach visited Taiwan in September 2020, Chinese planes still flew very close to Taiwan.
3. Missile test near Taiwan
China can also conduct missile tests near Taiwan in response to its anger. In the summer of 1995, when a new prayer of friendship was written between the US and Taiwan, China had conducted a similar missile test. At that time the then US President Bill Clinton had received Taiwan’s first democratically elected President Lee Teng-hui in the US. China was so annoyed by this meeting that it even conducted a missile test near Taiwan. During the trial, China declared the Economic Exclusive Zone adjacent to Taiwan as the target area. As a result, Taiwan’s shipping and air traffic were disrupted.
4. Economic Sanctions on Taiwan
Despite being enemies, China and Taiwan are very close commercially. In such a situation, China can create a shortage of that goods in Taiwan by imposing export restrictions. Not only this, he can also cause economic injury by boycotting some Taiwanese goods. China on Monday banned food imports from more than 100 Taiwanese suppliers, according to the Taiwanese Daily News. Beijing has already imposed sanctions on various Taiwanese leaders, including a ban on travel to the mainland. However it will not have much effect. China could also disrupt shipping in the Taiwan Strait, the world’s largest trading waterway. In recent months, Chinese military officials have repeatedly told the US that the strait is not an international strait.
Nancy Pelosi Taiwan: America did not bow down to China’s threats, Nancy Pelosi reached Taiwan under the protection of eight fighter jets, dozens of warships
5. Taiwan and America’s diplomatic opposition
The Global Times warned on Tuesday that Pelosi’s visit to the Biden administration would deal a “serious” blow to Sino-US relations. This means China could reduce its diplomatic ties with the US. This also includes the return of the Chinese ambassador to the US. In 1995, Beijing withdrew its then-US ambassador Li Daoyu after Washington allowed the then-President of Taiwan, Li, to visit the US. Last year, China recalled its ambassador to Lithuania after it allowed Taiwan to open an office in its capital under his own name instead of Chinese Taipei.
6. Occupation of Taiwan
China also has the option of occupying Taiwan. However, it seems unlikely that China will carry out such an action. During the early days of the Cold War, Taiwan’s Kinmen Islands were bombed. However, then the relations between China and America were quite good. Despite this, the US government supported Taiwan and the island’s army drove the Chinese troops. Pratas Island, 400 kilometers (250 miles) off the coast of Taiwan, could become a major target for China. The island is currently under the occupation of Taiwan. In 2012, China occupied the Scarborough Shoal in a territorial dispute in the South China Sea. The island is claimed by the Philippines.
