China seizes on Pelosi visit to set 'new normal' for Taiwan

A Navy Force helicopter under the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army takes part in military exercises in the waters around Taiwan, at an undisclosed location on Aug 8, 2022 in this handout picture released on Aug 9, 2022. - Eastern Theatre Command/Handout via Reuters

TAIPEI (Bloomberg): From the South China Sea to the Himalayas, Beijing has shown a willingness to seize on perceived missteps by its rivals to tighten its grip over disputed territory. That’s now playing out around Taiwan.

In recent days, the People’s Liberation Army has sought to establish a new status quo on Taiwan with a series of exercises in the wake of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit. The moves, including frequent trips across the US-defined median line in the Taiwan Strait and likely firing missiles over Taipei, have shrunk a vaguely defined buffer zone that has kept the peace for decades.