Part 9/13:
Analysts, including Steve Yates from the Heritage Foundation, interpret these maneuvers as deliberate pressure tactics aimed at:
Encirclement and Demonstration of Power: The exercises serve as a message that China can blockade or isolate Taiwan, whether as a short-term shock or as a long-term strategy to establish dominance.
Testing Its Military Capabilities: China’s navy has expanded rapidly, boasting an impressive fleet that remains largely untested in combat. While it surpasses U.S. naval forces in sheer numbers and ship-building capacity, expert assessments suggest caution, emphasizing that China's military, including its navy, remains unproven in actual warfare.