Anti War: Thread

[grarpamp]

Declarations of Independence historically risk death,
declaring one's Freedom, including personal freedom, from any
Authority, should not, thus such Authorities are always invalid.


China Launches Live-Fire Drills Off Taiwan With US Carrier Group
Nearby, As Pelosi's Plane En Route To Asia

According to prior comments from President Biden, the Pentagon wants
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to cancel her visit to Taiwan - but now
pending her possible arrival in Taipei the US military has moved a
Navy strike group into the South China Sea led by the USS Ronald
Reagan aircraft carrier.

The USS Reagan left a port call in Singapore and is now patrolling
waters near China, with Beijing flexing its own military muscle by
launching fresh naval exercises near the self-ruled island - and more
worrisomely issuing threats that the PLA military is on stand-by to
respond with "forceful measures" if needed.  Turkey's EHA media outlet
on Saturday is circulating (unverified) video purporting to show large
US warplane formation flyovers of the South China sea, with destroyers
below...

    📹| Warplanes of the US Navy are flying near Taiwan.
    ▪️Very harsh statements from China continue to come before US
House of Representatives Speaker Pelosi's visit to Taiwan
    ▪️Tension in the region has risen to its highest level.
pic.twitter.com/9AzZGQ3QPy
    — EHA News (@eha_news) July 30, 2022

Pelosi is currently en route over the Pacific for a scheduled tour of
Asia - including stops in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore
-  with The Washington Post's Josh Rogin on Friday reporting that a
Taiwan stopover is "expected to happen" during the "early part" of the
trip, based on diplomatic sources.

All eyes are on Pelosi's flight path after it was days ago revealed
that Taiwan was listed "tentative" as part of her itinerary...

    Pelosi is on the way to Asia pic.twitter.com/af1mf7HYsc
    — 🆁🆄🆂🆂🅸🅰🅽 🅼🅰🆁🅺🅴🆃 (@russian_market) July 30, 2022

It's expected that if she goes through with the Taiwan visit, Pelosi
would at some point in Asia board a military transport plane - likely
with US fighter jet escort. This possibility is what has infuriated
Beijing.

Chinese state media, for example, has been issuing loud warnings
saying the PLA military would have the "right" to intercept and deter
any armed jet escort, deeming this akin to an "invasion" and violation
of China's sovereignty.

Chinese foreign ministry officials continue to warn that "all options,
including military ones" are on the table given Beijing is
interpreting the potential Pelosi visit as a strong signal to
pro-independence forces, as well as 'interference' and a violation of
the One China principle.

Beijing is further warning that the House Speaker's visit to the
island, which would mark a first in 25 years, would only ratchet the
potential for "misunderstandings" and miscalculation.

    #Latest China's remarks on countering #Pelosi's possible visit to
#Taiwan shows highest level of warning. All options, including
military ones, are already on the table. It's crucial to accurately
understand China's remarks and avoid misunderstandings,
experts. at globaltimesnews pic.twitter.com/0LRJ4e0Jgt
    — Zhang Meifang张美芳 (@CGMeifangZhang) July 30, 2022

As CNN previewed, China's PLA Navy is holding "live-fire" exercises in
waters off Taiwan, raising the stakes further:

    China is planning to conduct live-fire exercises on Saturday in
waters near Pingtan Island of Fujian province, which is opposite the
self-governing island of Taiwan.

    The Pingtan Maritime Safety Administration issued a navigation
warning about the drills late Thursday local time, prohibiting all
ships from entering waters near the island and the southeastern
province of Fujian. It said the "live-fire training missions" would
take place from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

As Pelosi flies to the region, the US and Chinese militaries are
engaged in rival maneuvering in the seas below...

    Satellite images show the arrival of the US aircraft carrier
strike group, led by the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald
Reagan, into the South China Sea en route to the Taiwan Strait.
pic.twitter.com/8NFH4RWupc
    — Spriteer (@spriteer_774400) July 28, 2022

When the USS Reagan strike group entered the South China Sea, there
were widespread reports that Chinese destroyers began following
closely behind, mirroring and monitoring US Navy movements in the
waters.

    🇨🇳🇺🇸 Chinese navy warships are chasing the USS Ronald Reagan
in the South China Sea

    🚩 @ResistanceTrench pic.twitter.com/hch5yrUHjC
    — TPYXA ⚡ Middle East (@middleeasttime) July 30, 2022

Chinese pundits and others have lately been circulating Archduke Franz
Ferdinand memes, suggesting that if something goes wrong, the
provocative trip could be what sparks the next world war pitting
nuclear-armed superpowers China and the US against each other (and
perhaps also Russia, given the war in Ukraine and Moscow-Washington
stand-off in Eastern Europe).

    pic.twitter.com/bsca2pOSTH
    — Carl Zha (@CarlZha) July 30, 2022

While prior US media reporting indicated Pelosi's Taiwan visit would
come "next month" - meaning August, it remains entirely possible that
Pelosi could suddenly show up meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai
Ing-wen as soon as Sunday, July 31 - or into Monday or Tuesday.

Meanwhile, China state-run Global Times has posted an ominous message
of "Don't say we didn't warn you!" as Pelosi heads to Asia...

    “Don’t say we didn’t warn you!” Analysts warned at a top-level
think tank forum that open options in military and comprehensive
countermeasures ranging from economy and diplomacy from China will
wait if Pelosi gambles to visit Taiwan island. https://t.co/zDDsidxb3m
    — Global Times (@globaltimesnews) July 29, 2022

Some more worrisome signs...

    Don't want to sound alarmist, but IMO it's notable that at this
time of US-China tension, 3 of China's largest/newest roll-on/roll-off
civilian ferries appear to be off their normal routes and are in or
have moved south toward the Taiwan Strait. All 3 are associated with
the PLA.
    — Thomas Shugart (@tshugart3) July 30, 2022

This also as official social media accounts of the PLA military also
promoted 'war preparedness' messages, also picked up in international
press.