When U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan on August 2, her action drew the ire of the Chinese government, who responded with a series of military drills focused on six zones that essentially encircled the self-ruled island. The drill, carried out by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) — the principal military force of the People’s Republic of China and the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) — raised fears of a potential invasion all over the world. While the United States has not officially recognized Taiwan as an independent nation, it has maintained close ties with the…