The 91st Combined Amphibious Brigade of China's 73rd Army Group practices coastal landings as part of a multi-day exercise. During the operation, soldiers train on many different types of weapons. In addition to amphibious vehicles, Air Force aircraft are deployed, and some Navy vehicles also participate in the exercises.
It is difficult not to interpret this action as Beijing's attempt to send a clear message to the United States, especially to Taiwan.
It is also clear what the eastern superpower wants to say: it is not shy about asserting its will by deploying its armed forces, and is even willing to rejoin the disputed island by force. China considers the South China Sea territory its own, and in recent years has been sending increasingly strong messages to Taipei. The Taiwanese establishment operates almost independently of Beijing, and its largest defensive military ally is the United States. However, Washington is not among the 12 governments in the world that officially recognize Taiwan's independence.
Cover image source: Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images
