No Sign Of Cooling Tensions, Taiwan Drills Resume Following CODEL Trip

China has launched a new series of military drills around Taiwan following the latest US Congressional Delegation (CODEL) trip to the island.

• China Defence Ministry Spox: "PLA Eastern Theater Command organized a multi-service joint combat readiness & actual combat drills in waters and airspace around Taiwan island on Monday. This is a deterrence act toward the US and Taiwan, who are sabotaging cross-Straits stability."
• The five-strong CODEL is led by Sen Ed Markey (D-MA) and is formed of four Democrats and one Republican. The group has met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, and it set to hold talks with gov't and private sector representatives.
• Comes as speculation rose on 12 Aug of a meeting of Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden at the G20 leaders' summit in Indonesia in November following story in WSJ. If the two can arrange a face-to-face it could prove a major moment in relationship that has seen tensions reach multi-year lows in recent weeks following Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-CA) trip to Taiwan earlier in August.