Chinese Fleet Holds Western Pacific Drills

According to Taiwanese media reports, the fleet, escorted by five combat craft, voyaged across the Bashi Strait 20 nautical miles from Taiwan’s southeastern air defense identification zone, with Taiwan’s navy and air force on alert all the way.　

 Japanese media reported that for the first time China’s fleet entered the Western Pacific through the seas between the islands of Okinawa and Miyako. 　

Some media speculated that the fleet’s entry into the Western Pacific was China’s response to US president-elect Donald Trump’s answering a call from Taiwan’s leader Tsai Ing-wen and calling her “president,” which has upset the Chinese mainland which insists on the “One China” policy being the baseline for the country’s diplomacy. The People’s Liberation Army responded that the voyage was just a regular drill which was safe, non-threatening and in compliance with international law.