China has initiated two days of military exercises around Taiwan as a “stern warning” following the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te. Beijing’s actions come in response to President Lai’s strong assertion of Taiwan’s sovereignty and his vow to protect the island’s democracy against Chinese pressure.
China’s Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) commenced sea and air exercises encircling Taiwan on Thursday. These drills, which China describes as a “strong punishment” for Taiwan’s independence forces, are the first significant military response following Lai’s inauguration on Monday. The exercises aim to demonstrate China’s ability to impose a blockade and potentially prepare for more severe military actions in the future.
Following yesterday’s Announcement by the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army about the beginning of Significant Exercises around the Island of Taiwan and within the Taiwanese Strait; Hsiung Feng II and lll Medium-Range Anti-Ship Missile Batteries of… pic.twitter.com/oLPxfDKrfD
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Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported detecting 15 Chinese navy vessels, 16 coast guard vessels, and 42 military aircraft around the main island and its smaller outlying islands, including Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin. No Chinese aircraft or vessels have entered Taiwan’s territorial waters so far. Sun Li-fang, a spokesperson for Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, condemned China’s actions, stating they “damage regional peace and stability.”
The drills are part of China’s long standing opposition to Taiwan’s assertions of sovereignty. In his inaugural address, President Lai Ching-te emphasized Taiwan’s democratic identity and its resistance to Chinese intimidation. Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has consistently promoted Taiwan’s separate status from China, a stance that has drawn Beijing’s ire.
Chinese state media reported that the latest exercises serve as a “stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces,” implicitly referring to the United States and other countries supporting Taiwan. Li Xi, a spokesperson for the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, emphasized that these drills are a direct response to Taiwan’s new leadership and its stance on independence.
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