Residents of Taiwan largely calm in the face of Chinese anger

PINGTUNG (Taiwan): Many people on self-ruled Taiwan look upon China’s unprecedented military exercises with calm resignation, doubting that war is imminent and if anything, feeling pride in their democratic island’s determination to defend itself.

China, reacting to a visit to Taiwan last week by Nancy Pelosi, the US House speaker, has sent ships and aircraft across an unofficial buffer between Taiwan and China’s coast and missiles over its capital, Taipei, and into waters surrounding the island since last Thursday.