China Deploys Military Forces To Surround Taiwan

 

Daily Mail: Chinese TANKS flood beaches opposite Taiwan as Pelosi lands in Taipei: Beijing warns America will 'pay price for undermining China's sovereign security interests' - as four US warships lie off island's east coast 

* US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taipei on Tuesday evening amid fury from China 

* China warned the US will 'pay the price for undermining China's sovereign security interests' with visit 

* Chilling footage appears to show Chinese amphibious tanks on the coast of Fujian along the Taiwan Strait 

* Beijing's warplanes have been flying very close to the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday in a 'provocative' move 

* Four US warships, including the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, are positioned in waters east of Taiwan 

A furious Beijing today warned US politicians they will 'come to no good end' if they 'play with fire' over Taiwan as video emerged purportedly showing tanks lined up on beaches opposite the island. 

Chilling footage shared on Chinese social network Weibo appears to show amphibious tanks on the coast of Fujian along the Taiwan Strait. Further footage shows military equipment on the move in the city of Xiamen. 

The unverified videos emerged amid soaring tensions between China and US with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi touching down in Taipei today. Pelosi is the highest-ranking U.S. elected official to visit Taiwan since 1997.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: And so it begins. 

China Deploys Military Forces To Surround Taiwan 

PLA drills involving missiles, J-20 stealth fighters surround Taiwan as Pelosi lands on island -- Global Times  

China to launch 'targeted military operations' due to Pelosi visit -- Reuters  

21 Chinese warplanes, including more than a dozen fighter aircraft, flew through Taiwan's air defense zone on the day of Pelosi's visit -- Business Insider  

China to hold live ammunition military drills around Taiwan as Pelosi visits -- CNN 

China sends warships to surround Taiwan amid Pelosi visit -- Politico  

China begins military drills near Taiwan – reports -- RT

China threatens 'targeted military operations' as Pelosi arrives in Taiwan -- France 24  

China vows 'targeted military actions' in response to Pelosi's Taiwan visit -- Channel News Asia 

China ratchets up military and economic pressure on Taiwan as Pelosi begins her visit -- CNBC

U.S. - China Relations Near Collapse With U.S. House Speaker Pelosi's Visit To Taiwan

 

Daily Mail: Nancy Pelosi taunts China: Speaker tells Taiwanese legislature US wants to increase inter-parliamentary dialogue and mentions Tiananmen Square massacre in speech promoting 'security, economy and governance' for island nation 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi taunted China during her visit to Taiwan's Parliament in a speech promoting 'security, economy and governance' for island nation. 

Pelosi, who met with vice president of Taiwan’s parliament Tsai Chi-Chang, Wednesday morning said the US had 'come in peace for this region' and issued 'very strong, bipartisan way, in support of Taiwan.' 

While at the legislature, Pelosi emphasized bipartisan support for Taiwan despite China's threats of 'consequences' and demonstrations of military force over her visit.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: China is expecting the U.S. to recognize Taiwan independence in the near future. This has always been China's red-line for war, and China is now preparing for the worse. 

Why the U.S. has made the decision to purposefully pursue such an open policy of confrontation that will only lead to conflict and war is completely beyond me. 

U.S. - China Relations Near Collapse With U.S. House Speaker Pelosi's Visit To Taiwan  

Live: Pelosi at Taiwan parliament as China summons US ambassador -- BBC  

Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan: US house speaker tells parliament ‘we come in friendship’ – live updates -- The Guardian  

US House Speaker Pelosi arrives in Taiwan, defying Beijing -- AP  

Taiwan: Nancy Pelosi kicks off talks in controversial visit -- DW  

‘We come in friendship,’ Pelosi tells Taiwan’s parliament -- France 24  

Nancy Pelosi arrives in Taiwan as China puts military on high alert -- The Guardian  

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lands in Taiwan, drawing angry response from China -- ABC News Australia  

China Summons US Ambassador Overnight, Says Washington "Must Pay The Price" -- Zero Hedge

Editor's Note

Blogging will be light for the next two weeks. It will be back to normal on August 15. I have family coming to visit, and I will be traveling later next week (Updated July 30, 2022).

Update 10:00 EST August 2, 2022: There is a lot of news that needs to be commented on. I will be doing a number of posts later this evening.

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Set To Arrive At Taipei Airport (Live)

 

WNU Editor: I sent a message yesterday to all of my close friends and contacts in China on what did they think of the US House Speaker visiting Taiwan. The responses I got back were all universally the same. 

Bottom line. 

If House Speaker Pelosi lands in Taiwan, U.S. - China relations under the current White House administration are now in a "Cold War' phase.

Update: The U.S. is answering back on Beijing's threats .... White House warns China against escalation over Pelosi’s potential Taiwan visit (France 24).

Who Will Now Lead Al Qaeda After Ayman al-Zawahiri Was Killed In Afghanistan?

Pictured in just one of three published photos, al-Adel is the likely successor to the al-Qaeda throne. He is credited with masterminding the bombings of three US embassies in 1998 as well as playing a key role in the notorious 'Black Hawk Down' plot  

Daily Mail: Is this Al-Qaeda's next terror chief? Secretive heir apparent who 'oversaw Black Hawk Down operation' and helped carry out 9/11 attacks is poised to take over after Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in Afghanistan 

* Terror leader who named himself 'Sword of Justice' now thought al-Qaeda chief 

* Relatively young Islamist security leader known for shrewdness and poker face 

* He oversaw notorious 1993 'Black Hawk Down' operation which killed US troops 

* Al-Adel is a mainstay of the FBI Most Wanted list, with a $10million info reward 

The heir apparent to the al-Qaeda throne after tonight's confirmed death of Ayman al-Zawahiri is a canny, military-trained operative with experience killing British and American soldiers. 

Egyptian ex-army officer Saif al-Adel was a founding member of al-Qaeda, having joined pre-cursor terrorist group Maktab al-Khidamat in the late-1980s. 

 There he met future allies Osama bin Laden and al-Zawahiri, whose separate group Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) he would soon join.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: I concur with the above analysis. Saif al-Adel will be (if not already) Al Qaeda's next leader.

Al-Qaeda Leader Ayman al-Azwzhiri killed In CIA Drone Strike In Afghanistan

 

Daily Mail: US kills Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri: Biden says 'justice has been delivered' after CIA shredded Bin Laden deputy with two blade-fitted Hellfire missiles while he stood on balcony of Taliban home - ending two-decade hunt for 9/11 mastermind 

* Biden confirmed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a CIA drone strike in Kabul this weekend 

* The 9/11 mastermind was hit by two Hellfire missiles fitted with extended blades while standing on a balcony 

* He was staying in safe house in downtown Kabul with his wife, daughter and grandchildren, who weren't hurt 

* Al-Zawahiri was Osama Bin Laden's number two and is behind the deaths of thousands of Americans

* He plotted the USS Cole bombing in 2000 and the attacks on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 

* 'Now, justice has been delivered, and this terrorist leader is no more,' Biden said in his White House speech 

President Joe Biden on Monday evening announced a CIA drone strike killed al Qaeda leader's Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama Bin Laden's fanatical deputy who was the mastermind behind multiple attacks over the last two decades that have left thousands of Americans dead.

In his remarks, Biden repeatedly invoked the September 11th terrorist attacks, which al-Zawahiri helped plan, and said the slaying of the world's top terrorist target demonstrated the resolve of the US to go after terrorist leaders, no matter where they hide and how long it takes.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: The Taliban have definitely welcomed back Al Qaeda .... Proof the Taliban has welcomed Al Qaeda back? Bin Laden's No. 2 al-Zawahiri was staying at house in Kabul linked to Afghan deputy interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani when he was minced by US Hellfire missile (Daily Mail). They have now also responded to this missle attack .... Taliban claims US drone strike that killed Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul was a 'violation of international principles'... despite terror chief being holed up in interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani's house (Daily Mail).

  

 Al-Qaeda Leader Ayman al-Azwzhiri killed In CIA Drone Strike In Afghanistan  

Ayman al-Zawahiri: Al-Qaeda leader killed in US drone strike -- BBC 

US kills al Qaeda chief Zawahiri in Afghanistan strike, Biden says -- France 24  

Ayman al-Zawahiri: Al-Qaida chief killed in US strike -- DW  

Ayman al-Zawahiri: al-Qaida leader killed in US drone strike in Afghanistan, Joe Biden says -- The Guardian  

U.S. kills al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri in drone strike -- Politico  

Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri killed in US drone strike -- Al Jazeera  

Al Qaeda leader and former second-in-command to Osama bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, killed in CIA drone strike in Afghanistan -- ABC News Australia  

Biden: Killing of al-Qaida leader is long-sought ‘justice’ -- AP  

Blitzed on his balcony: How CIA spied on Ayman al-Zawahiri for six months before pounding terror chief with two Hellfire missiles when he stepped out of Kabul home and 'lingered' -- Daily Mail 

How the CIA identified and killed Al-Qaeda leader Zawahiri -- Reuters 

The killing of Al-Qaeda's Zawahiri: how it happened -- France 24 T

he six-blade 'ninja missile' used to mince terrorists: CIA deployed two R9X Hellfires to shred Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri - a month after it was used to wipe out ISIS thug in Syria -- Daily Mail  

Watching al-Qaida chief’s ‘pattern of life’ key to his death -- AP  

Zawahri's Kabul death raises questions about al Qaeda presence in Afghanistan after US left it to the Taliban -- FOX News  

Who was Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan? -- ABC News Australia  

Ayman al-Zawahiri: Who was al-Qaeda leader killed by US? -- BBC

On The Eve Of Pelosi's Trip To Taiwan, China's Military Posts An Impressive Video With A Demonstration Of Force

 

WNU Editor: Today is also PLA Army Day .... PLA gets ready to celebrate upcoming Army Day with advanced weaponry display, realistic combat preparations amid Taiwan Straits tensions (Global Times).

U.S. President Biden Makes Offer To Russia And China To Enter Into Nuclear Arms Control Talks

Naharnet/AFP: Biden calls on Russia, China to enter nuclear arms control talks  

President Joe Biden called Monday on Russia and China to enter nuclear arms control talks, saying that Moscow in particular has a duty to show responsibility after its invasion of Ukraine.

In a statement, the U.S. leader reiterated that his administration is ready to "expeditiously negotiate" a replacement to New START, the treaty capping intercontinental nuclear forces in the United States and Russia, which is set to expire in 2026. 

 "Russia should demonstrate that it is ready to resume work on nuclear arms control," Biden said.  

Read more .... 

Update: Biden offers talks with Russia (RT) 

WNU Editor: The White House statement is here .... President Biden Statement Ahead of the 10th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (White House). 

My prediction is that these talks are not going to happen. The U.S. is currently involved in an indirect war with Russia over Ukraine, and US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is about to land in Taiwan thereby breaking the U.S. commitment to a one China policy. Arms control talks are not on Beijing's and Moscow's agenda right now.

Update #2: Puzzlement is not the word that I would use .... Russia puzzled by Biden proposal to replace nuclear arms treaty (Reuters). From what I am seeing, reading, and hearing on Russian media, they are treating this proposal as a joke.

US Military Moving Assets To Protect US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Visit To Taiwan

A MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor is seen on the flight deck aboard amphibious assault carrier USS Tripoli. The Tripoli is now near Okinawa. © U.S. Navy

Nikkei: U.S. deploys ships and planes near Taiwan as Pelosi eyes visit 

TOKYO -- The U.S. military is moving assets, including aircraft carriers and large planes, closer to Taiwan ahead of an anticipated but unconfirmed visit to the island by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 

The military was initially opposed to the speaker's visit but now looks to be creating a buffer zone for Pelosi's plane, in case she decides to go ahead with the controversial stop. 

But with China declaring that it would "never sit idly by" if she were to visit the island, tensions in East Asia have quickly escalated, perhaps against the will of both U.S. President Joe Biden, who was seeking to remove some tariffs on Chinese goods to counter inflation, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who faces a sensitive political season at home with his rule extension on the line.

A reporter for local network TVBS tweeted that the speaker is expected to arrive in Taiwan on Tuesday evening.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The Chinese are also moving military assets .... PLA conducts mock night time drills amid Pelosi's possible Taiwan visit (Global Times).

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 'Is Expected To Visit Taiwan Tomorrow Night'

According to my colleague @tingtingliuTVBS from @TVBS_NEWS, @TVBS_ENGLISH, U.S House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be very likely to arrive in Taipei tomorrow night. TVBS also revealed that the team has already booked two hotels. https://t.co/3viWPpzbUa

— Yang Chien-Hao (@yangchienhao) August 1, 2022

Daily Mail: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 'IS expected to visit Taiwan tomorrow night' despite warnings from China that its military 'will not sit idly by' if she makes the trip to the self-governing island 

* Two unnamed officials told CNN on Monday that Pelosi will touch down in Taiwan, despite Chinese threats of a military response 

* Reports from TVBS News in Taiwan have said Pelosi could arrive in Taipei as early as tomorrow night 

* The visit will inflame tensions with China, which considers Taiwan a territory 

* Chinese officials have warned that they will not sit 'idly by' if Pelosi visits 

* Last week, they went as far as to say they would shoot down Pelosi's congressional jet if it is detected in Chinese airspace with a military escort 

* China's Xi Jinping warned Biden 'not to play with fire' over Taiwan last week 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to visit Taiwan on her trip to Asia, despite warnings from China that its military 'will not sit idly by' if she does. 

Senior Taiwanese government officials and a US official both told CNN that the stop is on her trip, even though it is not on her public itinerary. 

Reports from TVBS News in Taiwan have said Pelosi could arrive in Taipei as early as tomorrow night and her team has booked two hotels, although there is no mention of the visit in her official itinerary. The US official added that defense department officials were working on securing a plan to keep her safe, according to CNN.  

Read more ....  

WNU Editor: Hotels have been booked. Security being beefed up. Yup .... she is going to Taiwan. 

Update #1: Pelosi expected to visit Taiwan, Taiwanese and US officials say (CNN)  

WNU Editor: Hotels have been booked. Security being beefed up. Yup .... she is going to Taiwan. 

There is a time and place for the U.S. to send a diplomatic and political message to China when it comes to Taiwan. Now is not the time. The Ukraine war is escalating, and Europe is facing a very real energy and economic crisis that needs to be addressed right now. Pelosi's trip to Taiwan is just a distraction, and it will raise tensions to an unnecessary level. 

Update #2: China has responded .... China’s military ‘will not sit idly by’ if Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan (The Guardian). More here .... China says military "won't sit idly by" if Pelosi visits Taiwan(Axios).