Taipei. China sent planes and ships this Monday to surround Taiwan, announced the Beijing Ministry of Defense, in its most recent military exercises aimed at the autonomously governed island that it considers part of its territory.
The exercises, called Joint Sword 2024B, “test the joint operational capabilities of theater command troops,” the Chinese ministry said.
In response, Taiwan said it dispatched “appropriate forces” to secure its territory.
The Taiwanese Defense Ministry condemned Chinese “irrational and provocative behavior” and stated that it “sent appropriate forces to respond accordingly to protect freedom and democracy and defend the sovereignty” of Taiwan.
The maneuvers are carried out in “areas to the north, south and east of the island of Taiwan,” said Captain Li Xi, spokesman for the Chinese army’s Eastern Theater Command.
The exercises “focus on topics such as air and sea combat readiness surveillance, blockade of ports and key areas,” as well as “assaulting sea and land targets,” Li said.
The head of US diplomacy, Antony Blinken, warned China on Friday against any “provocation” towards Taiwan, after the island’s president, Lai Ching-te, pledged in a speech to “resist annexation” to China .
Lai, who became president in May, has spoken openly of defending Taiwanese sovereignty, which has irritated Beijing, which labels him a “separatist.”
China has in recent years intensified its military activity around Taiwan, sending warplanes and other military aircraft, while its ships maintain an almost constant presence in the island’s waters.
Beijing did not rule out the use of force to take control of the democratically governed island.
Strong warning
Taiwan said this Sunday that it had detected a Chinese aircraft carrier south of the Bashi Channel, which separates the island from the Philippines. The ship appeared to be heading for the western Pacific.
“In the face of enemy threats, all officers and soldiers in the country are fully prepared,” the Taiwanese Defense Ministry commented on Monday.
“We are determined and confident in ensuring national security and defense,” he added.
In his speech on Thursday, President Lai pledged to “resist the annexation” of the island and insisted that Beijing and Taipei “are not subordinate to each other.”
In response, China warned the same day that Lai’s “provocations” will cause a “disaster” for its people.
Beijing indicated Monday that its maneuvers serve as a “firm warning for the separatist acts of the ‘Taiwanese independence’ forces.”
The dispute between China and Taiwan dates back to the civil war in which Chiang Kai-shek’s nationalist forces fled to Taiwan in 1949 after being defeated by Mao Zedong’s communists.
Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party has defended the sovereignty and democracy of Taiwan, which has its own government, military and currency.
China has sought to eliminate Taiwan from the international stage, preventing its participation in global forums and snatching away diplomatic allies.
United States condemns exercise
The United States on Sunday condemned China’s military exercises around Taiwan, calling the move “unjustified and at risk of escalation,” while calling on Beijing to exercise restraint.
“The United States is seriously concerned about the People’s Liberation Army’s joint military exercise in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller warned in a statement, referring to the Chinese military.
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