71 warplanes and seven Chinese ships sent towards Taiwan

China’s military has often used large military exercises as a demonstration of force in response to US government actions in support of Taiwan. It conducted large live-fire military exercises in August in response to US House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. Beijing views visits from foreign governments to the island as de facto recognition of the island as independent and a challenge to China’s claim of sovereignty. China’s military sent 71 planes and seven ships towards Taiwan in a 24-hour display of force directed at the island which came after China expressed anger at Taiwan-related provisions in a US annual defence spending bill that was passed on Saturday. Is China about to start a war with Taiwan ?