China announces military exercises near Taiwan as Pelosi's trip looms

• The Communist Party’s military wing, the People’s Liberation Army, conducted “live-fire exercises” off Pingtan Island, the Associated Press reports.
• It's unclear if the exercises include missiles, fighter planes or weapons, per AP.

The big picture: The Chinese government has consistently vowed to take control of Taiwan, potentially by force, Axios reports. The PLA has previously flown fighter planes and bombers outside of Taiwan.

• The tension over Pelosi's impending visit has stoked fears that Taiwan will become a military flashpoint in the near future.

State of play: Pelosi's delegation was slated to depart for Asia on Friday and planned to visit Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore, CNBC reports. A stop in Taiwan was seen as "tentative."

• Beijing threatened "serious consequences" if Pelosi visits the island, arguing that Taiwan does not have the right to conduct foreign relations, Axios' Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian and Dave Lawler report.
• President Biden said publicly this month that the U.S. military thinks the potential trip is "not a good idea right now."

Go deeper: Chinese invasion of Taiwan may come sooner than expected