China conducts amphibious landing drill near Taiwan after senators’ visit

China appears to have conducted an amphibious landing drill near Taiwan at about the same time three U.S. senators were visiting the island, which Beijing considers to be a breakaway territory. 

The landing drill was announced in a social media post on Tuesday, after the U.S. senators arrived on the island Sunday, The Associated Press reported.

Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) are the three senators who went to Taiwan.

“There are some countries that question whether the United States will come to the aid of our friends in Taiwan. This is a moment we thought it was urgent and important for us … to make it clear that we intend to do so,” Coons said.

The AP said the landing drill included an assault landing and the transport of amphibious vehicles, according to a post by the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army on its WeChat account.

Video was also released of the training showing wheeled amphibious armored vehicles being able to dock at amphibious landing ships and then leave to go toward the beach, according to the AP.

The AP noted for amphibious landing would be a major component if the Chinese military decided to invade Taiwan. 

Chinese state media strongly denounced the senators for visiting Taiwan. The senators were on a military aircraft that was taking 75,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan.

“The Taiwan authorities and Washington are well aware that the use of a military aircraft would be provocative and cause a stir. But that seems to have been the intention,” China Daily said of the visit.