China simulates strikes against ‘key targets’ in Taiwan, on second day of ‘total encirclement’ drills

China simulated strikes against “key targets” in Taiwan, Sunday April 9, on the second day of an exercise “total encirclement” scheduled until Monday and presented by Beijing as a “serious warning” to the authorities of the island after the meeting of its president with a senior American official.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry detected nine Chinese warships and 58 aircraft around the island on Sunday, after spotting as many boats and 71 aircraft the previous day. Baptized “Joint Sword”, the operation was strongly denounced by Taiwan and the United States called on Beijing to “detention”, ensuring keep “open” its communication channels with China.

“Create a deterrent”

These maneuvers were launched after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting in California on Wednesday with Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy, to which Beijing had promised to react with measures. “firm and energetic”. They aim to establish Chinese capabilities to “taking control of the sea, airspace and information (…) in order to create deterrence and total encirclement” Taiwan, Chinese state television said on Saturday.

Destroyers, fast missile launchers, fighter planes, tankers and jammers are notably mobilized according to Beijing, during these maneuvers which must last until Monday.

China considers Taiwan (23 million inhabitants) as a province which it has not yet managed to reunify with the rest of its territory since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.