military experts; The possibility of establishing a no-fly zone in Taiwan to prevent Pelosi from traveling

According to the report of the Fars International News Agency, at the same time as China’s public and private warnings to Washington about the possible visit of Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, to Taiwan, some sources also report the possibility of Beijing’s coercive action in this regard.

Chinese newspaperSouth China Morning PostToday (Wednesday), citing the country’s top military experts, he wrote that Beijing may declare the island’s airspace a no-fly zone in order to prevent the US House of Representatives from visiting Taiwan.

The newspaper said that Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan could create an unprecedented risk of conflict between the Chinese military and the US military in East Asia, but explained that Beijing prefers to solve the problem through diplomatic methods.

However, military experts warned in a conversation with this newspaper: “To prevent this trip, a no-fly zone or restricted navigation zone may be declared in Taiwan.”

China considers Taiwan a province and has always opposed any contact between Taiwanese representatives and Western officials, especially high-ranking political or military officials from countries with which Beijing has diplomatic relations. Beijing has always opposed the visit of foreign officials to the island, saying that such visits violate the principle of one China and send the wrong signals to Taiwan’s separatist forces.

The newspaper quoted Chinese military experts as saying: “If Pelosi still insists on visiting Taiwan, Beijing will use diplomatic, economic and even military means to do everything possible to prevent her from visiting the island.”

Chinese military expert Li Jie explained to the South China Morning Post: “Pelosi’s plan to visit Taiwan raises the risk of a military conflict between China and the US military over the Taiwan issue, as mainland China today is very different from what it was in the past.” It was the middle of the 1990s.

Referring to the third Taiwan Strait crisis in 1995-1996, this military expert said that at that time, Washington sent two aircraft carrier attack groups to the region to prevent China’s missile tests from turning into a real invasion of Taiwan.

He added: “The US military has said that it can send aircraft carriers to escort Pelosi if necessary, but the Chinese military now has two aircraft carriers in service, and placing such giant ships in the waterways is very dangerous for both sides.”

Nie Lexiong, a professor at Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, also says that the narrowing of the military-technical gap between Beijing and Washington has made Chinese leaders more aggressive and less tolerant of American provocations and challenges.

The newspaper wrote: “Beijing has many tools to force Pelosi to abandon her trip. For example, in terms of military options, the Chinese military can declare a no-fly zone and a restricted navigation zone for military exercises near the Taiwan Strait and force Pelosi’s plane to divert its route if it insists on visiting Taiwan.

Nie Lexiong said that Beijing still prefers to use diplomatic means to convince the US to cancel Pelosi’s visit, adding: “For example, Beijing can play Russia’s card by selling something (to Russia) that the United States does not like.” play, because China continues to refuse to comply with international sanctions due to the events in Ukraine.”

On the other hand, Zhou Chenming, a researcher at the Yuan Wang think tank in Beijing, emphasized that the Chinese military is very angry because in recent months despite this fact [نقض شدن اصل چین واحد در سفر مقامات غربی به تایوان] which Beijing has repeatedly pointed out, has felt disrespected by the United States.

A source in the Chinese military, who also asked not to be named, told the newspaper that Pelosi’s visit could coincide with the anniversary of the founding of the Chinese military on August 1, when the Chinese military organizes large-scale military exercises in the Taiwan Strait region.

Previously, informed sources had reported that the Chinese government had sent harsh and warning private messages to the American government about the possible trip of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to Taiwan. (More details)

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