Taiwan’s defense ministry, according to Taiwan’s defence ministry report on Saturday, said that China just finished a two-day military exercise around Taiwan in which it simulated bombing attacks and practiced boarding ships. The “Joint Sword – 2024A” drills came three days after Lai Ching-te was sworn as Taiwan president whom Beijing accuses of being a separatist.
China’s defence ministry says the exercises were provoked by Lai who said in his inaugural speech that both sides of the Taiwan Strait are “not subordinate to each other”.
Lai has repeatedly called for dialogue with China but his overtures have been declined stating that only Taiwanese people can decide their own future and rejecting Beijing’s claims of sovereignty. According to the government of Taiwan, such actions by China would not cow it down.
According to the defense ministry in Taipei on Friday, 46 Chinese military planes crossed what had previously been an unofficial boundary between the two sides established along the centerline of the Taiwan Strait. In addition, 62 Chinese combat aircrafts and 27 naval vessels were counted. These planes such as advanced Su-30 fighters and nuclear capable H-6 bombers flew through the strait and southwards into Bashi Channel separating Taiwan from Philippines waters. The Ministry also shared footage taken by air force jets showing a Chinese J-16 fighter jet and an H-6 bomber without giving a specific location.
For four years now, China has continually had military activities around Taiwan including large-scale war games in 2022 and 2023. People’s Liberation Army Daily commentary dubbed as “the voice of one of nation’s armed forces” accused Lai of being a “pawn” for external forces trying to block development progress in China adding that should “Taiwan independence separatist forces insist on going their own way or even take risks”, PLA will follow orders and firmly smash all attempts made by separatists.
