Bottom line: Beijing aimed skyward with its latest attempt to expand areas of influence, unilaterally opening up several flight routes including one between Shanghai and Hong Kong that is uncomfortably close to Taiwanese airspace — another step in its diplomatic and military pressure campaign to coerce Taiwan to rejoin China. The move reinvigorated U.S. Congressional efforts to lobby the Trump administration to support Taiwan, but the White House isn’t likely to be too forceful in its response, as it needs Beijing to keep pressure on a nuclear North Korea.
Background: Tensions in the Taiwan Strait have been icy since an independence-leaning party won both the presidential election and a majority of seats in Taiwan’s parliament in 2016.
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