TOKYO -- Chinese forces conducted military exercises around Taiwan from April 8 to 10, but the drills were smaller than those carried out in response to former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-governed island last August. Beijing was apparently reluctant to provoke public outrage in Taiwan ahead of the island's presidential election in January 2024.
Nevertheless, Chinese President Xi Jinping has made no secret of his desire to absorb Taiwan, making it virtually certain that tensions in the Taiwan Strait will escalate.
