China’s provocative military drills near Taiwan are seen as „strong punishment“ and follow the recent inauguration of its new president, Lai Ching-te.
The Chinese armed forces began conducting large-scale military exercises around Taiwan on Thursday, just days after the island’s newly elected president Lai Ching-te took office.
It’s not the first time China has conducted a large exercise around Taiwan like this, but it is a noticeably large event. The move sends an unmistakable message to Taiwan, yields strategic benefits for Beijing, and sets a sour tone for Chinese-Taiwanese relations as a new president’s term in office begins.
Exercise „Joint Sword“ began Thursday morning, and it will last two days. The drills will focus on „joint sea-air combat readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets,“ per Chinese state media reports on these exercises.
Taiwan’s military reported that China deployed 33 aircraft, 16 Coast Guard vessels, and 15 Navy ships for the drill. In addition to surrounding Taiwan’s main island, Chinese forces also executed drills in the waters around offshore islands Kinmen, Matsuri, Wuqiu, and Dongyin.
The Chinese exercises notably include mock strikes by fighter jets with live ammunition and drills with various naval vessels, including frigates and destroyers. Taiwan’s defense ministry posted a video condemning Chinese actions, as well as showing the various locations around it where Chinese forces are operating.
The CCP’s military exercises, which highlight its hegemony mindset, have undermined regional peace and stability.
