China’s People’s Liberation Army began two days of aggressive military drills on Thursday that included flying armed fighter jets around Taiwan and mock attacks on the island.
China People’s Liberation Army Explained The military drills are “a severe punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a stern warning against interference and provocation by external forces.”
This is probably Inauguration Taiwan’s new president, William Lai Ching-te, was sworn in on Monday. Lai replaced two-term president Tsai Ing-wen, also of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who has been denounced by China as a “separatist.”
The Chinese Communist Party tried to intimidate the Taiwanese people into voting for Lai, but when that failed, Barked His largely conciliatory inaugural address was a “confession of Taiwan independence” by a “dangerous separatist.”
At one point in the speech, Lai advised China to “face the fact that the Republic of Taiwan exists,” a comment that many observers felt infuriated Beijing.
Taiwan’s Vice President Lai Ching-te, also known as William, celebrates his victory in the presidential election in Taipei, Taiwan, on Jan. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office vowed on Tuesday to take “countermeasures” and “punish DPP officials who collude with external forces to provoke ‘independence’.”
The exercises that began on Thursday were apparently part of that punishment. Chinese state media published maps showing that Operation Joint Sword 2024A would involve the near-complete encirclement of Taiwan in five different maritime areas. The “A” in the operation’s name was clearly intended to suggest that more exercises could be coming.
Although the exercise was larger in scale than most of Beijing’s previous tantrums and simulated a more direct threat to Taiwan’s defence-rich outlying island, Taiwan’s public and government did not appear overly alarmed or intimidated by it.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said the exercises included 15 People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships, 33 military aircraft, and 15 Chinese coast guard vessels. None of the Chinese ships or aircraft appeared to be conducting live-fire exercises near Taiwanese territory, and none came within 24 nautical miles of the coast of Taiwan’s main island.
Taiwanese officials said China’s actions were not unexpected and did not mark a dramatic escalation of the tired “gray zone” intimidation tactics it has used against Taiwan for the past few years.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense, however, be criticized He condemned China’s military exercises as an “irrational provocation” and a reflection of Beijing’s “militaristic mentality.”
The ministry criticized the start of these military exercises, saying, “Not only will the launch of these exercises not contribute to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”
“We stand by with resolve and restraint. We do not seek conflict but will not shy away from it. We are confident in safeguarding national security,” the ministry vowed.
Taiwanese officials have said they are obligated to activate their defenses and scramble jets if China turns the drills into an actual attack.In a grey-zone war, China’s vastly larger military typically seeks to wear down and demoralize Taiwan by forcing it to respond with limitless provocations.
Taiwanese military expert Said China’s latest drills were notable for simulating an “all-out attack” on Taiwan rather than an economic blockade, and for training attacks on the Taiwanese border islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.
The Chinese military also sent naval and air patrol planes to Taiwan’s eastern region, home to some of its most heavily fortified bases and strengthened military infrastructure, in what Taiwanese analysts speculate was a signal to the United States and Japan that Taiwan could not easily receive reinforcements or supplies from the east if China launched an all-out attack.
Other observers Guessed The PLA’s exercises are primarily intended as a domestic propaganda effort, indicative of the flurry of social media posts, videos and news articles that followed Operation Joint Sword 2024A on China’s tightly controlled internet.
China’s state broadcaster CCTV released posters showing off the planes, ships and missiles tested in the drills as glamorous movie stars and touting them as “magic weapons to kill separatists”.
President Lai’s office said it was “regrettable” that China was using “unilateral military provocations” to “threaten Taiwan’s democracy and freedom.”
Rai himself Said He said Taiwan was ready to confront “external threats” and would “continue to safeguard the values of freedom and democracy, and safeguard regional peace and stability.”
“I have confidence in the military and I want all my compatriots to feel at ease,” Lai said during a visit to a military base near Taipei on Thursday.
