China conducted significant military exercises around Taiwan on Thursday, surrounding the island with naval vessels and military aircraft. These drills, described as “Joint Sword-2024A,” are part of an ongoing campaign by China to intimidate Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory. The exercises involved aircraft and ships encircling the island to test their combat capabilities, according to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China.
The military exercises followed the recent inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te. In his inauguration speech, President Lai emphasized Taiwan’s commitment to democracy and freedom, a statement that China viewed as a declaration of independence. The drills were seen as a direct response to Lai’s speech, which Beijing condemned.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin issued a stern warning to Taiwan, stating that “independence forces” on the island would face severe consequences. He used language often associated with China’s propaganda, warning that these forces would be “left with their heads broken and blood flowing” if they opposed China’s goal of unification.
“All Taiwan independence separatist acts will be hit head-on by more than 1.4 billion Chinese people, and all Taiwan independence separatist forces will be hit hard in the face of the historical trend of China’s complete reunification,” Wang said.
Taiwan responded to the drills by deploying its air, ground, and sea forces. The island’s defense ministry stated that it was prepared to defend its freedom and democracy. In a speech on Thursday afternoon, President Lai reaffirmed his commitment to standing on the front line to protect Taiwan and its values.
“Faced with external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend the values of freedom and democracy and safeguard peace and stability in the region,” he said.
Beijing has labeled President Lai as a “dangerous separatist” and accused him of pushing Taiwan towards war and decline. China’s military released posters featuring rockets, jets, and naval vessels, with messages aimed at discouraging Taiwan’s independence efforts.
The drills took place in the Taiwan Strait and around several islands administered by Taipei, including Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin. As of 8:00 pm local time, Taiwan’s defense ministry reported detecting 49 jets and planes, with 35 crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait.
China’s military exercises are part of a broader strategy to pressure Taiwan.
However, Chinese officials are using the terms “strangle” and “severely impact,” adding, “Taiwan independence forces will be left with their heads broken and blood flowing after colliding against the great… trend of China achieving complete unification.”
That’s some strong language for two days of drills.
