China wraps up military drills sparked by Pelosi's Taiwan visit

Beijing's biggest action sparks claim of status quo change in Taiwan Strait

A news broadcast in Beijing shows military operations near Taiwan on Aug. 3. The drills were the largest ever held around the self-ruled island. © Reuters

CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer

August 10, 2022 18:56 JST

Updated on August 10, 2022 20:50 JST

SHANGHAI -- China wrapped up its biggest-ever military drills around Taiwan on Wednesday, launched in a furious response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's controversial visit to the self-ruled island last week.

The People's Liberation Army had been holding live-fire war games, including the firing of ballistic missiles around Taiwan, which China claims as its own. The moves triggered accusations from U.S.-backed Taipei that Beijing was upending the status quo in the sensitive strait between the island and its giant neighbor.