On Monday, China once again began large-scale military exercises in and around Taiwan. China has deployed its army, navy, air force and missile corps around Taiwan’s border. China began its military maneuvers in the region after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-tae’s announcement that China had no right to represent Taipei.
The People’s Liberation Army said it completed its blockade exercises around the island on Monday evening, fully testing the forces’ integrated joint operation capabilities. PLA has been conducting such exercises from time to time to show its military might.
‘This is an important operation’
Earlier, the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command conducted an exercise titled Joint Sword 2024B in the Taiwan Strait and its northern, southern and eastern regions. Senior Captain Li Ji said in a statement that the purpose of the exercise is to send a strong message to the separatist voice of Taiwan independence and that it is a necessary operation to safeguard national sovereignty and unity.
He said that China’s Liaoning Aircraft Carrier Task Group has been deployed to conduct joint exercises with other PLA forces. He said the exercise is being conducted to test the joint operational capabilities of all services and arms around the island.
China’s Ministry of Defense said it focused on blockade of ports, seizure of territorial control and drilling on sea and land targets north and south of Taiwan island. The exercise is a test of PLA forces’ multi-domain cooperation, systems clash and precision strike capabilities on key targets.
The exercises came in response to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s speech four days earlier on Taiwan’s National Day that the two sides were “not subservient to each other” and that Beijing had no control over Taiwan. Lai, who pushed for Taiwan independence after his election in May, has said both sides of the strait should have equal status and is committed to peace across the strait. China claims the chain of islands as part of mainland Taiwan, and President Xi Jinping has been vocal about its integration with the mainland over the past few years.
Taiwan criticized China
At the same time, Taiwan’s foreign ministry in the capital Taipei criticized China’s military threats and urged Beijing to back down and immediately stop its military provocations.
“MOFA condemns China and urges it not to use false pretexts to justify differences and conflicts or undermine regional peace and stability,” the statement said.
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said “Taiwan independence” is incompatible with peace in the Taiwan Strait and will respond to provocations by separatist forces.
When asked about PLA exercises around Taiwan, Mao told a media conference that China is always committed to maintaining regional peace and stability, which countries in the region clearly know. Mao said that Taiwan is an integral part of China’s territory and the Taiwan issue is China’s internal matter, which will not tolerate any external interference.
