U.S. Defense Spending Bill Leads to China Taking Aim at Taiwan
Taiwan’s defense ministry said China sent 71 warplanes and seven naval vessels on “strike drills” — rehearsals for conflict — into its air-defense zone on Monday.
China had condemned an American spending bill that included military assistance for Taiwan, accusing both countries of escalating their “collusion and provocation.” Tensions have been especially high since Nancy Pelosi, the former speaker of the House, visited the island in August.
Meanwhile, Taiwan extended mandatory military service in response to growing fears of China. From 2024, conscripts will spend a year in the military, up from four months currently. The move could increase Taiwan’s military manpower by about 40%, analysts told Reuters.
Conscripts will be tasked with guarding infrastructure, allowing the island’s professional forces to respond to an invasion, and make it more like a “porcupine” — prickly and hard to attack.
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