Beijing has initiated a new series of military exercises involving ships and aircraft near Taiwan, occurring just days after the self-governing island celebrated its National Day. The drills, labeled Joint Sword-2024B, are focused on areas to the north, south, and east of Taiwan, according to Captain Li Xi, spokesperson for the Chinese military’s Eastern Theatre Command.
The drills are described as addressing “sea-air combat readiness, blockade maneuvers on key ports, and assaults on maritime and ground targets.” Li characterized these operations as “legitimate and necessary” for safeguarding China’s sovereignty and national unity, although no end date for the exercises was provided.
In response, Taiwan’s Ministry of Defence condemned China’s “irrational and provocative actions” and stated that it had mobilized appropriate forces to defend the island’s freedom, democracy, and sovereignty. As of 8 a.m. local time, approximately 25 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and 11 ships, including seven from the navy, were reported to be active around Taiwan. Taiwan’s presidential office urged China to respect the choices of the Taiwanese people and to refrain from military provocations.
This latest escalation follows a surge in Chinese military activity around Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. The timing of the drills is notable, as they occurred shortly after President William Lai Ching-te’s National Day address on October 10, during which he vowed to resist any attempts at annexation by Beijing and reiterated that the Chinese government has no authority to represent the island’s 23 million residents. “It was expected that the PLA would conduct military exercises following Lai’s speech,” said Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund. “The drills aim to demonstrate the resolve of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to protect Chinese territory and serve as a warning to Taipei and Washington against crossing Beijing’s red lines.”
Beijing has not dismissed the possibility of using force to unify Taiwan, alleging that the recent exercises are a warning against “separatist acts” linked to Taiwan’s independence movement. Lai has faced accusations from Chinese officials of promoting a “two-state” theory regarding Taiwan and China. After his address, various state media labeled his message as a “poison pill wrapped in cellophane.”
Kuang-shun Yang, co-founder of the Taipei-based think tank US-Taiwan Watch, remarked that China might be testing international waters amid global upheaval, referring to conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and North Korean threats. “There are numerous regional flashpoints right now, and Beijing may see this as an opportunity to assess the world’s commitment to Taiwan,” he explained.
Beijing continues its campaign to diminish Taiwan’s presence on the global stage, systematically blocking the island’s participation in international forums and attempting to poach its few remaining diplomatic allies. Meanwhile, the United States remains Taiwan’s primary international supporter and supplier of military aid.
Credit: Aljazeera
