Taipei: China concluded two days of military exercises around Taiwan, featuring simulated attacks with bombers and ship boarding drills, in what Taiwan has labeled as “blatant provocation”. The exercises, detailed amid a surge of Chinese warplanes and warships, drew strong criticism from Taiwan on Saturday.
According to Chinese state television’s military channel, the drills, named “Joint Sword – 2024A”, concluded late on Friday. The official People’s Liberation Army Daily described the exercises, which lasted from Thursday to Friday, as previously announced.
Despite repeated attempts to reach China’s defense ministry for comment, there was no response on Saturday. These exercises come as China continues to assert its claim over Taiwan, a democratically governed territory that Beijing regards as its own.
The drills commenced three days after Lai Ching-te assumed office as Taiwan’s president, a move that Beijing views with suspicion, labeling Lai a “separatist”. China justified the exercises as a response to Lai’s inauguration speech, where he emphasized that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait were not subordinate to each other, a stance China interprets as advocating for Taiwan’s independence.
While Lai has expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with China, Beijing has rebuffed his overtures. Lai maintains that Taiwan’s future should be decided by its people and rejects China’s sovereignty claims. Taiwan’s government condemned the drills, asserting its resilience against Chinese pressure.
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Taiwan’s defense ministry reported detecting 62 Chinese military aircraft and 27 navy ships on Friday, including 46 planes that breached the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial barrier between the two sides. The Chinese aircraft, including advanced Su-30 fighters and nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, also flew into the Bashi Channel separating Taiwan from the Philippines.
Despite the tensions, Taiwan’s presidential office emphasized that China’s military actions destabilize the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait and provoke international concern and condemnation.
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Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo urged personnel to enhance their combat capabilities in response to the exercises. The Chinese military’s Eastern Theatre Command released a video titled “A six-word rhyme on smashing independence”, showcasing military prowess and vowing to thwart any separatist attempts.
While China has conducted similar military activities around Taiwan in recent years, some observers note that these exercises may be more about making a statement in response to Lai’s presidency rather than escalating tensions. Nevertheless, China continues its rhetoric against Lai, warning of decisive action against any moves towards independence.
