China's military on Wednesday announced the completion of what had after Sunday become extended drills surrounding Taiwan, which had initially begun with the controversial Nancy Pelosi visit. Days into the threatening drills last week, it became evident - as state media fully admitted - that the unprecedented maneuvers were a rehearsal for a forced "reunification operation".

The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA military issued a statement saying it has "completed various tasks" but will now conduct "regular patrols". The past full week of drills were especially alarming in that they involved ballistic missile fire over the island and the practical erasure of the median line in the Taiwan Strait due to a heavy warship and aircraft presence in the area.