According to the latest China-Taiwan news, Early Monday morning, China deployed 25 fighter jets and 11 warships around Taiwan in a publicized military drill, dubbed Joint Sword-2024B.
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According to the latest China-Taiwan news, the drills organized by the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command were carried out around the north, south and east of Taiwan encircling the island.
The People’s Liberation Army’s goal was to test their joint operations capabilities, which include sea and air combat readiness, as well as the ability to blockade ports and areas around Taiwan.
People’s Liberation Army spokesman Naval Senior Captain Li Xi addressed that these exercises aimed to send a stern warning to separatist forces in Taiwan.
The drills drew condemnation from Taiwan with the Ministry of Defence describing China’s actions as irrational and provocative. Taiwan dispatched appropriate defensive forces to monitor the situation and ensure the security of its airspace and territorial waters.
President William Lai Ching-te convened national security meetings to discuss Taiwan’s response.
According to the latest China-Taiwan news, the United States expressed concerns over China’s military maneuvers with State Department spokesman Matthew Miller calling for restraint from Beijing.
The US addressed that actions like these could destabilize peace across the Taiwan Strait and pose risks to regional stability.
The timing of these drills is linked to Taiwan’s National Day celebrations also known as Double Tenth, where President Lai made a defiant speech asserting that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other.
President Lai’s strong stance that Beijing has no authority to represent Taiwan was perceived by China as a direct challenge to its sovereignty claims over the island.
Following the speech, Chinese officials condemned Lai’s remarks with Chen Binhua spokesman for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, stating that Lai’s provocations would lead to disaster for the people of Taiwan.
During Taiwan’s National Day celebrations, President Lai made a bold speech, stating that Taiwan would resist any annexation attempts by China. He reiterated that Taiwan was a sovereign nation, not subordinate to Beijing.
In response, China launched military drills as a form of punishment for Lai’s remarks, which Beijing considered inflammatory and escalating tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
The drills were dubbed Joint Sword 2024-B, following up on similar exercises earlier in the year. According to Taiwan’s defense ministry, 34 naval vessels and 125 aircraft were detected around the island.
The People’s Liberation Army stated that these exercises simulated attacks on Taiwan by land, sea and air. This included testing joint operations involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force, which China claimed tested its integrated military capabilities.
According to the latest China-Taiwan news, Chinese state media published maps indicating the deployment of military forces around Taiwan, suggesting an encirclement tactic designed to pressure Taiwan from all directions.
These military activities included port blockades and simulated strikes on maritime and land targets. The route of some patrols by the Chinese Coast Guard was even described as being in the shape of a heart.
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Taiwan scrambled its fighter jets in response to the Chinese maneuvers, although the island’s airports and ports remained operational, avoiding direct clashes.
Taiwan’s outlying islands were placed on high alert given their proximity to mainland China and Taiwan’s defense ministry condemned the drills as unreasonable provocation.
According to the latest China-Taiwan news, President Lai reassured the Taiwanese people of the government’s commitment to safeguarding their democratic system and national security, holding high-level security meetings to address the situation.
The United States condemned the drills, stating that there was no justification for China’s response to what was described as a routine speech by President Lai.
The US urged China to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that could jeopardize peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
China’s military intimidation of Taiwan dates back to 1996 following Taiwan’s first presidential elections. At the time, China conducted missile tests and declared areas around Taiwan off-limits.
This led to a strong response from the US, with President Bill Clinton deploying naval forces to the Taiwan Strait. Tensions saw a temporary easing between 2008 and 2016, but escalated with the election of Democratic Progressive Party leader Tsai Ing-wen, who Beijing views as pro-independence.
Recent tensions occurred in August 2022 when US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, the first such visit since 1997.
China viewed Pelosi’s visit as a provocation and responded with two days of military drills, even firing ballistic missiles over Taiwan.
According to a recent poll by Taiwan’s Institute for National Defence and Security Research, 61% of Taiwanese respondents think it is unlikely that China will invade Taiwan in the next five years.
While China’s war drills are worrying, many experts agree that an all-out invasion of Taiwan is unlikely in the near future.
Ja Ian Chong, associate professor at the National University of Singapore explained that Beijing’s current actions are primarily aimed at controlling the narrative and presenting China as responding to provocations rather than being the aggressor.
Moreover, open channels of communication between Washington, Beijing and Taipei help tackle the risk of a serious escalation, according to Chang Wu-ueh, director of the Center for Cross-Strait Relations at Tamkang University.
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