China’s military exercises around Taiwan are aimed at testing its ability to “seize power” over the island, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) announced Friday. This statement came as the PLA launched the second day of extensive drills encircling Taiwan, marking the largest such exercises in over a year.
These drills follow closely on the heels of the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, who is known for his strong stance on Taiwan’s sovereignty. Beijing has labeled Lai a “dangerous separatist” and condemned his inaugural address, in which he urged China to halt its intimidation of Taiwan, which has intensified under Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The PLA began the exercises on Thursday morning, deploying warships and fighter jets around Taiwan and its outlying islands. The exercises were described as “a strong punishment for separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces.” On Friday, the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command confirmed the continuation of the drills, focusing on testing capabilities to “jointly seize power, launch joint attacks, and occupy key areas.”
China’s ruling Communist Party views Taiwan as a part of its territory, despite never having governed it, and has vowed to take the island by force if necessary. The majority of Taiwanese, however, have no desire to come under Chinese rule. Xi Jinping, China’s most authoritarian leader in a generation, has made clear that the island’s “inevitable reunification” with the mainland cannot be delayed indefinitely.
The two-day exercises involve joint operations by China’s army, navy, air force, and rocket force. They are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, as well as to the north, south, and east of Taiwan, according to the PLA.
For the first time, the PLA drills also included the participation of China’s Coast Guard, operating near Taiwan’s outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin, which are located just off China’s southeastern coast.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has condemned the exercises as “irrational provocations” and has responded by deploying its own sea, air, and ground forces. Between 6 a.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday, the ministry detected 49 Chinese aircraft, with 35 crossing the Median Line, an informal demarcation in the Taiwan Strait that Beijing does not recognize but had largely respected until recent years.
Additionally, the ministry reported detecting 19 Chinese warships and seven coast guard vessels near the Taiwan Strait.
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