Beijing encircles Taiwan: military drills heighten tensions
Beijing began military exercises around Taiwan on Monday. "China deployed planes and ships to encircle Taiwan on Monday," writes the AFP agency. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense condemned the maneuvers as "irrational and provocative behaviour."
According to the Chinese Ministry of Defense, the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Command deployed its forces composed of the army, navy, air, and missile forces to conduct joint military exercises codenamed 'Joint Sword-2024B' in the Taiwan Strait and areas north, south, and east of the island of Taiwan.
"Ships and aircraft are approaching the island from various directions"
"With vessels and aircraft approaching Taiwan Island in close proximity from different directions, troops of multiple services engage in joint drills, focusing on subjects of sea-air combat-readiness patrol, blockade on key ports and areas, assault on maritime and ground targets, as well as joint seizure of comprehensive superiority," the statement added.
The drill also serves as a stern warning to the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces. It is a legitimate and necessary operation for safeguarding state sovereignty and national unity, emphasized Li Xi, a spokesperson for the Eastern Command of the People's Liberation Army.
Taiwan immediately responded to the Chinese maneuvers. In the Ministry of National Defense statement, Taipei "strongly condemn the PLA's irrational and provocative actions." In response, Taiwan is deploying its forces as "a legitimate and necessary operation for safeguarding national sovereignty and national unity."
The Chinese Ministry of National Defense also released a statement informing about patrols around the island.
The China Coast Guard's 201 formation, 1305 formation, 1303 formation, and 2102 formation carried out law enforcement patrols in the waters around Taiwan Island on October 14th, which is a practical action to manage and control the Taiwan Island, according to the one-China principle, a spokesperson for the China Coast Guard, on Monday afternoon Eastern Time.
Taiwanese army on alert
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense announced in a press release that on Sunday, its army was put on alert after a Chinese aircraft carrier was detected in the south of the island.
"The Liaoning carrier group has entered waters near the Bashi Channel and is likely to advance toward the western Pacific," explained the ministry.
The army remains "ready to respond if necessary." Earlier on Sunday, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese army, responsible for the area including Taiwan, published on its social media accounts a propaganda film titled "Fully Prepared and Awaiting the Moment Before Battle."
Last Thursday, the ministry noted 27 air units and 14 naval units of the People's Liberation Army near Taiwan.
China aims to regain control over Taiwan
China has never ruled out the use of military force to regain control over Taiwan - an island it considers part of its territory. China has conducted three large-scale maneuvers in the past two years, using its air and naval forces to encircle the island.
Many experts have pointed out that a potential actual attack on the island could spark another large-scale conflict with global consequences.
PRC leader Xi Jinping maintains that "the reunification of the motherland is a historical inevitability," not excluding military intervention. "China will surely be reunified," he concluded.
