Editor's Note:

Immediately after Nancy Pelosi landed in Taipei on August 2, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command announced a series of joint military operations around the island of Taiwan starting the same evening. The PLA also surrounded Taiwan island with sixexercise zones in drills starting August 4 and essentially locked the island down for several days.

The drills formed a powerful deterrent against Taiwan secessionist forces and external interference. The series of military exercises rehearsed a potential real military operation and could become routine, experts said.

Prelude to reunification Graphic: Chen He, Tang Tengfei/GT