China’s military has launched new drills around Taiwan, following warnings from Taiwanese officials that such actions were likely in response to a major speech by its new president last week.
Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, delivered a speech on 10 October in which he reaffirmed Taiwan’s sovereignty and dismissed Beijing’s claims to represent the island, despite never having ruled it.
Beijing has considered Lai a staunch supporter for Taiwan independence, a red line for leaders of the Chinese Communist Party, which claims the island as part of its territory.
On Monday, China’s People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command announced it had launched joint sea and air drills around Taiwan’s main and outlying islands, involving the army, navy, air force, and rocket force, effectively simulating a blockade.
“This is a stern warning to the secession forces advocating ‘Taiwan independence,’” said Li Xi, a spokesman for the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, which oversees the forces positioned closest to Taiwan. Li described the Chinese moves, code-named “Joint Sword-2024B” as a “legitimate and necessary operation” for China to defend its sovereignty and national unity.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry condemned the moves, saying it had sent “appropriate” forces in response to the Chinese drills, describing them as an “irrational provocation” and reaffirming its determination to defend the island democracy’s sovereignty.