(Taipei) China launched military maneuvers on Monday with planes and ships around Taiwan, which for its part assured that it had deployed “adequate forces” to respond.
These exercises, called Joint Sword-2024B, aim to “test the joint operational capabilities” of the troops, the Chinese Ministry of Defense announced Monday morning.
The operations are taking place “in areas to the north, south and east of the island of Taiwan,” said Captain Li Xi, spokesperson for the Chinese army’s Eastern Command.
The maneuvers “focus on sea-air combat readiness patrols, the blockade of ports and key areas”, “the assault of maritime and land targets” as well as “the joint acquisition of overall superiority”, a added Mr. Li.
The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense condemned in a press release “irrational and provocative behavior”, ensuring that it had “deployed the adequate forces to respond appropriately with the aim of protecting freedom and democracy, as well as to defend the sovereignty” of Taiwan.
“Faced with the enemy threat, all the officers and soldiers of the country are ready […] We are determined and confident [d’être en mesure] to ensure the defense of national security,” continued the same source.
China considers Taiwan as a part of its territory to be reunited one day and has never renounced using military force to regain control. It has increased pressure on Taiwan in recent years by increasing its military activity around the island, maintaining a near-constant presence using military planes and ships.
Beijing has organized three series of large-scale maneuvers in the past two years, using its air force and navy to encircle the island, which is managed autonomously. On Sunday, the Taiwanese army claimed to be “on alert” after detecting the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning to the south of the island.
“Separatist”
Relations between Beijing and Taipei have been terrible since 2016 and the arrival as Taiwanese president of Tsai Ing-wen, then of her successor Lai Ching-te in 2024.
Invested in May, Mr. Lai pledged Thursday to “resist the Chinese annexation” of the island or “the encroachment of [sa] sovereignty”, on the occasion of Taiwan’s National Day.
He also expressed his wish to have “healthy and orderly dialogue and exchanges” with China, calling on Beijing to use its influence instead to help resolve conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Beijing, which describes Mr. Lai as a “separatist,” reacted by warning that the Taiwanese president’s “provocations” would lead to a “disaster” for his people. On Friday, the United States warned China against any “provocation” against Taiwan.
“The entire world has every interest in maintaining peace and stability, in preserving the status quo, in avoiding any type of conflict likely to disrupt essential elements of the global economy,” underlined US Secretary of State Antony Blinken .
On Monday, Beijing called the launch of these new exercises a “serious warning” in the face of “separatist actions by “Taiwan independence” forces.”
“This is a legitimate and necessary operation to safeguard state sovereignty and national unity,” said Captain Li Xi.
The official Chinese television channel CCTV broadcast a video entitled: “The greater the provocation, the tighter the reins will be.” Beijing has long tried to block contacts between Taipei and its international partners in order to isolate it, preventing it from participating in global forums and putting pressure on its rare official supporters.
Washington has recognized Beijing to the detriment of Taipei as a legitimate power since 1979, but remains Taiwan’s most powerful ally and its main arms supplier.
Disputes between Beijing and Taipei date back to the long and deadly civil war which pitted communist fighters led by Mao Tse-tung against the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek.
Defeated by the communists, who founded the People’s Republic of China on 1er October 1949, the nationalists of the Republic of China took refuge with many civilians in Taiwan, one of the only parts of the national territory then not conquered by the forces of Mao Tse-tung.