CUTTING THROUGH AN OVERLOAD OF INFORMATION TO GET TO THE HEART OF THE STORY.
THIS IS THE POINT.
Strength under 2025.
That's the codename of the ongoing military exercises conducted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army in the middle and southern areas of the Taiwan Strait.
The PLA Eastern Theater Command made the announcement hours ago on Wednesday,
a day after launching joint military exercises around the island on Tuesday.
Wednesday's exercises are designed to focus on subjects of identification and verification, warning and expulsion,
and interception and detention to test the troops' capabilities of area regulation and control,
joint blockade and control, and precision strikes on key targets,
according to spokesperson of the Eastern Theater Command.
China's State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office said on Tuesday
that Tuesday's drills were a resolute punishment for Lai Ching Tu authorities' blatant Taiwan independence provocations.
What specifically triggered the latest reactions from Beijing?
What has Lai Ching Tu, the Taiwan leader, said or done since he took office last May?
And how will the drills impact the situation across the Strait?
Are we going to see more conflict across this water?
Welcome to the point with me, Lai Ching, coming to you from Beijing.
I'm pleased to be joined from the Washington, D.C. by Peter Kuznick,
history professor and director of nuclear studies of the Institute of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University.
From Beijing,