Once again, China is blocking Taiwan’s ports

A Chinese naval fleet, including an aircraft carrier and destroyers, began a major military exercise around Taiwan on Monday. The Chinese air force is also participating in the training, which, according to a statement from the Chinese military leadership, is intended, among other things, to practice a blockade of Taiwanese ports. On an army published card it can be seen that exercises and patrols are taking place north, east and south of Taiwan.

Chinese ships are also active west of Taiwan. The People’s Republic’s coast guard is said to have invaded, among other things, the waters of the Matsu Islands, which belong to Taiwan but are only a few kilometers off the coast of mainland China. No target practice or rocket launches were reported Monday.

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The exercise, ‘United Sword 2024B’ being baptized is not unexpected. Last Thursday, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te gave a speech on the occasion of Taiwan’s National Day. In advance it was already expected that China would respond with an exercise. After Lai, who was considered a “hardened separatist” by Beijing, took office in May, China already held a similar exercise, ‘United Sword 2024A’. A blockade of the independently governed island, which China considers a renegade province, was also simulated at that time.

On Thursday, China lashed out fiercely at Lai. He had said that China had no right to represent Taiwan and that he would keep his promise to oppose any Chinese attempt to annex Taiwan. But otherwise he struck a conciliatory tone. For example, he said he was willing to cooperate with the People’s Republic on climate change and the fight against infectious diseases. But according to it Chinese Bureau of Taiwan Affairs Lai’s speech had deliberately increased tensions and seriously undermined peace and security in the region.

According to army spokesman Li Xi, the current exercises should therefore be regarded as a “strong warning” against the “separatist activities of Taiwan’s independence elements.” The Chinese army already published on Sunday a video with which it said it wanted to demonstrate its preparedness. It includes submarines, mobile missile installations, fighter planes and landing vehicles.

Sanctions

Taiwan in de United States have condemned the exercise. According to President Lai’s spokesperson Karen Kuo must confront China with “the reality of the existence of the Republic of China [Taiwan] face it” and “respect the Taiwanese people’s choice for freedom and democracy.”

In addition to the exercise, China also imposed sanctions on two Taiwanese on Monday. Member of Parliament Puma Shen is the founder of Kuma [Zwarte Beer] Academy, which organizes training for Taiwanese civilian militias. He is no longer allowed to enter China. This also applies to businessman and democratic activist Robert Tsao, founder of chip company UMC. He donated more than 17 million euros to the Kuma Academy in 2022.

Taiwanese citizens are more likely to be in China’s crosshairs. In June, Taiwan tightened travel advice to mainland China after Beijing amended the law to now impose the death penalty on “fanatical Taiwanese separatists”. Last month, Taiwanese politician Yang Chih-yuan, who was arrested in China in 2022, was nine years in prison.

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