Aljazeera: Ships resume Taiwan routes amid uncertainty over China drills

[Hamartia Antidote]

Ships resume Taiwan routes amid uncertainty over China drills

More than 30 vessels have transited through China’s drill zones since Sunday, according to ship-tracking data.

www.aljazeera.com

Shipping in the Taiwan Strait showed signs of returning to normal, despite a lack of clarity over whether China’s military exercises around the island have ended.

More than 30 vessels have transited through China’s drill zone south of Taiwan’s main port since Sunday, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, with the latest ship positions showing four of the total six zones being traversed.

Shipping in the Taiwan Strait, a key route for supply chains and commodities, has faced uncertainty and delays since Beijing began its most provocative military drills in decades in the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan last week. Some shipowners barred their vessels from transiting the strait, while others navigated around the drill zones.

Vessels had also been hesitant about approaching the major port of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, seeking to avoid the large drill zone located just offshore. Ships are now starting to resume their original routes.

The supertanker Barakah, laden with crude oil from the Middle East, was moored off Kaohsiung on Monday after last week diverting to the Sha Lung port at the northern end of the island, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Crude tanker Ghinah is also en route to Kaohsiung after changing its route to Sha Lung.

Two liquefied natural gas vessels also arrived at ports in Taiwan on Monday after idling off the coast for a few days, according to the data.

The military exercises were scheduled to be completed on Sunday, but it’s unclear whether the drills have ended. There has been no official announcement, and Hu Xijin, former editor of the Communist Party’s Global Times newspaper, said they had been extended.

China also publicized drills in other areas along its coast, including live-weapon firing from Aug. 6-15 in the southern part of the Yellow Sea separating the mainland from the Korean Peninsula — a frequent area for exercises.
The Maritime Safety Administration also said military exercises will take place in parts of the Bohai Sea in the north for a month from Aug. 8, and warned ships to avoid entering the area. Drills were also held in that region around this time last year.

 

[MH.Yang]

Yes, the PLA exercise was postponed. The reason is that the USS Reagan has turned to Taiwan again.

If the PLA's exercise ends as scheduled, American netizens will definitely say that the aircraft carrier Reagan forced the PLA to end the exercise.

So the exercise will continue to be postponed until the Reagan leaves.

 

[Zsari]

Yes, the PLA exercise was postponed. The reason is that the USS Reagan has turned to Taiwan again.

If the PLA's exercise ends as scheduled, American netizens will definitely say that the aircraft carrier Reagan forced the PLA to end the exercise.

So the exercise will continue to be postponed until the Reagan leaves.

Extended not postponed.

 

[Han Patriot]

Ships resume Taiwan routes amid uncertainty over China drills

More than 30 vessels have transited through China’s drill zones since Sunday, according to ship-tracking data.

www.aljazeera.com

Shipping in the Taiwan Strait showed signs of returning to normal, despite a lack of clarity over whether China’s military exercises around the island have ended.

More than 30 vessels have transited through China’s drill zone south of Taiwan’s main port since Sunday, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, with the latest ship positions showing four of the total six zones being traversed.

Shipping in the Taiwan Strait, a key route for supply chains and commodities, has faced uncertainty and delays since Beijing began its most provocative military drills in decades in the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan last week. Some shipowners barred their vessels from transiting the strait, while others navigated around the drill zones.

Vessels had also been hesitant about approaching the major port of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan, seeking to avoid the large drill zone located just offshore. Ships are now starting to resume their original routes.

The supertanker Barakah, laden with crude oil from the Middle East, was moored off Kaohsiung on Monday after last week diverting to the Sha Lung port at the northern end of the island, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Crude tanker Ghinah is also en route to Kaohsiung after changing its route to Sha Lung.

Two liquefied natural gas vessels also arrived at ports in Taiwan on Monday after idling off the coast for a few days, according to the data.

The military exercises were scheduled to be completed on Sunday, but it’s unclear whether the drills have ended. There has been no official announcement, and Hu Xijin, former editor of the Communist Party’s Global Times newspaper, said they had been extended.

China also publicized drills in other areas along its coast, including live-weapon firing from Aug. 6-15 in the southern part of the Yellow Sea separating the mainland from the Korean Peninsula — a frequent area for exercises.
The Maritime Safety Administration also said military exercises will take place in parts of the Bohai Sea in the north for a month from Aug. 8, and warned ships to avoid entering the area. Drills were also held in that region around this time last year.

Ehhh was those 'exercise' having a blockading effect in the first place? I thought it was just an exercise.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Ehhh was those 'exercise' having a blockading effect in the first place? I thought it was just an exercise.

It was but then the Chinese here on PDF said “stupid Pelosi look at what she has done!!! Taiwan now surrounded by the Chinese Navy blockading shipping and flights!!!”

OMG the end is very near!!!! China #1!!! We showed everybody who is boss!!!! Hahaha!!!

 

[Han Patriot]

It was but then the Chinese here on PDF said “stupid Pelosi look at what she has done!!! Taiwan now surrounded by the Chinese Navy blockading shipping and flights!!!”

OMG the end is very near!!!! China #1!!! We showed everybody who is boss!!!! Hahaha!!!

It's not a blockade, it's just ship and planes didn't move in for a few days. Why are the ships so scared. Just an exercise mate but with live munitions. Lol. So where was US?

 

[MH.Yang]

It's not a blockade, it's just ship and planes didn't move in for a few days. Why are the ships so scared. Just an exercise mate but with live munitions. Lol. So where was US?

After China announced the postponement of the exercise, the USS Reagan turned around again and went to Japan.

 

[aviator_fan]

Yes, the PLA exercise was postponed. The reason is that the USS Reagan has turned to Taiwan again.

If the PLA's exercise ends as scheduled, American netizens will definitely say that the aircraft carrier Reagan forced the PLA to end the exercise.

So the exercise will continue to be postponed until the Reagan leaves.

I am not sure there any die hard Americans on this forum. There are people with objective non emotionally attached opinions on this matter. Btw, Reagan never left the Taiwan straits. Its very much there. So presence did not deter or start the exercise. There is no 'turning again'.

China will (and should) to continue its displeasure at the visit. Reagan or no Reagan.

 

[Han Patriot]

I am not sure there any die hard Americans on this forum. There are people with objective non emotionally attached opinions on this matter. Btw, Reagan never left the Taiwan straits. Its very much there. So presence did not deter or start the exercise. There is no 'turning again'.

China will (and should) to continue its displeasure at the visit. Reagan or no Reagan.

Reagan was in the Taiwan Straits? Serious? Hahah. Do you know 25 years ago, Chinese naval ships didn't even leave Port in Xiamen due to US naval presence. We had to bite our teeth for 25 years. Now 25 years later, we have arguably one of the best navies on earth. In 10 years when our emals carriers are ready with 400 J35s. Then let's see who dares to come in the first island chain.