US Seventh Fleet Commander Says U.S. Must Challenge 'Gorilla' China Over Taiwan Missile Tests

The army of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army PLA conducting long-range live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait on August 4. Hong Wei/Xinhua

Business Insider Asia: Top US naval commander says China's firing of missiles near Taiwan must be contested

* A top US fleet commander said China's firing of missiles over Taiwan must be contested.

* He warned that failure to do so would embolden China to establish its live fire drills as a norm.

* Vice Admiral Karl Thomas commands the Seventh Fleet, the largest of all US forward-deployed fleets.

Seventh Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Karl Thomas said on Tuesday that China's firing of missiles near Taiwan has to be contested to prevent the risk of such actions becoming the "next norm."

"It's very important that we contest this type of thing. I know that the gorilla in the room is launching missiles over Taiwan," Thomas said at a press roundtable in Singapore, per Agence France-Presse.

China has repeatedly fired ballistic missiles near Taiwan as part of a series of naval and air force drills, ramping up pressure on the self-governed island after it received visits from US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a second congressional delegation this month.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: China has responded .... US fleet commander's groundless accusation against PLA exercises rebutted; US urged to return to three joint communiqués (Global Times).

US Seventh Fleet Commander Says U.S. Must Challenge 'Gorilla' China Over Taiwan Missile Tests

US 'must contest' Chinese missiles over Taiwan, says admiral -- BBC

US commander says China missile fire over Taiwan must be contested -- CNA/AFP

Top US commander calls China’s drills over Taiwan the ‘Gorilla in the room’ that must be contested -- The Independent

U.S. Must Challenge 'Gorilla' China Over Taiwan Missile Tests: Official -- Newsweek

'Gorilla in the room!' China's military drills in Taiwan slammed by US commander -- Express

US must ‘challenge’ Chinese missiles – admiral -- RT

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