US-Japan in 'Orient Shield' Military Exercise; U.S. Warships Cross Taiwan Strait for the First Time

#ChinaForecast On August 28, the Orient Shield joint military exercise between the U.S. and Japanese armies officially began in Kyushu, Japan. This is the largest joint field operation in both countries' history. China's recent intensification of military exercises around Taiwan has exacerbated Japan's security concerns. During the Chinese military exercise on August 4th, the Chinese military launched 11 missiles, five of which fell into Japan's exclusive economic zone, which aroused strong condemnation from Japan. This incident also made the Japanese people more aware of the risk of Japan being involved in the conflict in the Taiwan Strait. On August 28th, two guided-missile cruisers USS Antietam and USS Chancellorsville crossed the Taiwan Strait. This is the first time the US military has crossed the Taiwan Strait since the US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, and the timing is quite sensitive. Kirby, the White House National Security Council spokesman, told CNN on the 28th that the warship's passage through the Taiwan Strait sent a "very clear" signal. This voyage was planned long ago, and is very much in line with the one-China policy of the US, as well as the desire of the US to continue working towards a free and open Indo-Pacific.