A top US general has expressed astonishment at China's 'aggressive' military exercises, which simulate a blockade of Taiwan, leaving him and fellow senior officers 'speechless'.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, General Ronald P Clark, the newly appointed Commanding General of US Army Pacific, highlighted that the wargames have escalated tensions in the South China Sea.

Since 2022, such drills have become routine, with Chinese fighter jets, naval ships, coast guard vessels, and drones frequently observed near the island.

The risk of an amphibious invasion of Taiwan is at an all-time high, as China asserts sovereignty over the islands, despite Taiwan's self-identification as independent.

"These are extraordinary times," admitted Clark, acknowledging that some of the manoeuvres by military adversaries "really leave you speechless at times.", reports the Express US.

He reflected on the past, saying that five years ago he wouldn't have imagined Beijing undertaking such operations, but now it's a regular occurrence for the PLA (People's Liberation Army) to engage in such activities.

Nevertheless, the general believes these exercises have inadvertently alerted other countries to China's potential plans, enabling them to prepare accordingly.

Clark remarked: "It gives us an opportunity to really understand how they would go about something like a blockade or potentially a cross-strait invasion, which as we all know is exceptionally difficult."

Navigating across the strategic Taiwan Strait, which measures a mere 130km at its narrowest point, presents a significant hurdle for any Chinese assault on Taiwan's shores.

Clark remarked: "To think that you could execute a mission like that over a contested space that's roughly 80 nautical miles - it would be a challenge. We just have to make sure that they understand that our efforts to deter that type of activity is exactly what we're willing to do."

According to military analysts quoted by The Taiwan News, if China were to embark on an invasion, strategies would likely involve establishing high-risk zones to deter American warships and aircraft from engaging.

In such scenarios, Clark cautioned, America's on-the-ground forces would take action against targets, collect combat intelligence, and open pathways for their air and sea counterparts.

With the US bolstering its strategic presence, new missile systems have been set up in the Philippines since last year, capable of striking at distances reaching all the way to China.

Clark added a pointed message about the strategy's efficacy: "If it gives them pause," he said, "if it causes them to think twice, if it causes them to delay any thoughts they would have about some sort of aggressive action towards Taiwan that would result somehow in reunification, let them have it."