Chinese president Xi Jinping has stunned Western observers by announcing an unexpected series of military exercises close to Taiwan. China’s military wing, the People’s Liberation Army, began holding “live-fire” exercises on Saturday. Previously released images of convoys of armored vehicles sent to Pingtan in Fujian province, just 125 kilometers from Taiwan.
Fiorella Isabel, a geopolitical analyst, posted a video of dozens of armored vehicles, including military tanks, being transported to the region by rail.
She tweeted: “China is conducting live-fire military exercises near Pingtan in Fuzhou in eastern Fujian province, moving troops and armored vehicles to the area closest to Taiwan.
“This is because the US appears to be pushing to send a delegation from House Speaker Pelosi to Taiwan, despite warnings from China.”
The exercises will be performed both on land and at sea.
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Video also shared on social media showed artillery rockets being fired with live fire off the coast opposite Taiwan as part of the exercises.
However, the PLA announcement gave no indication as to whether Saturday’s exercise could also include missiles, combat aircraft or other weapons.
The statement read: “Live ammunition will be fired between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. and all access (into these waters) will be prohibited.”
Tensions between the US and China over Taiwan have escalated in recent weeks as Beijing Chairman Nancy Pelosi repeatedly warned of plans to visit the island.