China begins military drills near the coasts of Taiwan
China on Thursday morning began a two-day military drill near the coasts of Taiwan, where it surrounded the island with warships and warplanes calling it a “punishment” for “separatist acts”, according to state media.
The drills come three days after Lai Qing-te, whom China calls a “dangerous separatist”, was sworn in as the new president of the self-ruled island.
China’s official Xinhua news agency said the Chinese military “began joint military drills around the island of Taiwan from 7:45 am (23:45 GMT),” adding that the drills were taking place in the Taiwan Strait and in the north, south and east of the island.
The drills, dubbed Common Sword 2024A, will focus on combat readiness for joint naval air patrols, and joint precision strikes on key targets.
According to the Chinese military spokesman, “the joint drills represented a strong punishment for the separatist actions of Taiwan’s independence forces and a stern warning against interference and provocations by outside forces”.
Taiwan on Thursday condemned China’s military drills, and a statement from Taiwan’s defense ministry strongly condemned such irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability.
“We’ve sent naval, air and ground forces to respond to defend the freedom, democracy and sovereignty of the Republic of China,” he said, referring to Taiwan by its official name.
Taiwan’s coast guard also announced Thursday that it had deployed ships to defend the island’s sovereignty.
“The coast guard in cooperation with the Ministry of National Defense monitors movements in the surrounding maritime areas,” an official statement said, adding that it would “defend the country’s sovereignty and security in a firm manner”.
On the other hand, a US military officer said that China’s military drills on Taiwan were worrying but not unexpected.
General Stephen Sklenka, deputy commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, told a crowd in Canberra: “We were expecting something like this, frankly, but he added, “It’s worrying”.
“Our expectation of this action does not mean that we should not condemn it publicly… It’s worrying”.
Sklenka said other countries besides the United States should voice their opposition to the drills.
“It’s important for the United States to denounce the Chinese, but the impact will be stronger, in my opinion, when condemnation comes from other countries in the region,” he said.
“I also believe that conflict between our two countries can be avoided and it’s not an inevitable outcome,” he said, stressing that China’s goal in the drills was directed inward, not the international community.
The last time China announced similar military exercises around Taiwan was in August after then-Vice President Lai stopped in the United States during a visit to Paraguay.
In April, China held drills simulating the encirclement of the island following former president Tsai Ing-wen meeting with then-US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California.
China also launched major military drills in 2022 after Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan.
