"The focus on Pratas demonstrates that Beijing has options for striking a blow against Taiwan that fall well short of an invasion, which is becoming a more urgent concern for American military planners. Regular incursions also help establish China’s long-term presence in territory it claims as its own. Meanwhile, the drumbeat of exercises adds to the domestic political concerns for Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, who rejects Beijing’s claims to sovereignty," reports Bloomberg.

Image: Wallpaper Cave

"Pratas is closer to Hong Kong than Taiwan and hundreds of miles from the nearest American base in Japan. Taking it could give China a new launching ground for future military operations without provoking a full-scale conflict with the U.S. Despite the saber-rattling, China has many reasons to avoid a war, not least being that it could kill tens of thousands, devastate the economies on both sides and potentially lead to a nuclear confrontation," reported the international news agency.

Beijing sees Taiwan as a breakaway province.

Taiwan considers itself to be an independent nation.