(CNN) — Tensions are rising again in the Taiwan Strait: China began military exercises surrounding Taiwan just days after democracy swore in a new leader long hated by Beijing.
The maneuvers began early this Thursday, in what China described as “punishment” for “separatist acts”, in reference to the election and inauguration of the new president of the autonomous island, Lai Ching-te.
Although relations between the two sides have continued to worsen in recent years, this latest escalation represents a major test for Taiwan’s new leader, whose ruling party defended democracy in the face of growing threats from its authoritarian superpower neighbor.
China’s Communist Party claims Taiwan is part of its territory, despite never controlling it, and has vowed to take the island by force if necessary. And it has become much more bellicose under Xi Jinping’s leadership.
This is what you should know.
Why are there military drills?
The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said it launched joint military exercises involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force in areas around Taiwan early Thursday.
The exercises are taking place in the Taiwan Strait — a narrow body of water that separates the self-ruled island from mainland China — as well as north, south and east of Taiwan.
They are also being carried out in areas around Taiwan’s outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, situated just off China’s southeastern coast, the command said in a statement.
The Chinese guided missile frigate Nantong, one of the vessels in the series of military exercises around Taiwan. (Credit: People’s Liberation Army/Weibo)
Naval Colonel Li Xi, spokesman for the command, called the exercises “a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a serious warning against interference and provocation by external forces.”
In a domestic propaganda effort, Chinese state media has extensively covered the drills, including a live broadcast on state broadcaster CCTV. The Army also posted images of its ships on social media, and the exercises trended on the Chinese Twitter-like platform Weibo.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that it had sent sea, air and land forces to respond to the Chinese maneuvers. He deplored “such provocations and irrational actions that undermine regional peace and stability.”
The island’s presidential office said in a statement that it is “confident and capable of defending national security,” and accused China of “using unilateral military provocation to threaten Taiwan’s democracy and freedom.”
Why are these military exercises carried out?
The most obvious answer is Lai’s inauguration this Monday.
Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), now in power for a historic third term, views Taiwan as a de facto sovereign nation with a distinct Taiwanese identity.
Before the Taiwanese elections in January, Beijing had warned that a Lai victory could stoke tensions and spark conflict, repeatedly presenting the vote as a choice between “peace and war.”
Taiwanese voters ignored those warnings and returned power to the DPP, although two opposition parties in favor of closer ties with China now have a majority in Parliament.
The Chinese government and state media regularly berate Lai, calling him a dangerous separatist, a “troublemaker” and a “war-maker,” while rejecting his repeated offers of dialogue.
Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, and his wife, Wu Mei-ju, wave during the inauguration ceremony in Taipei on May 20, 2024. (Credit: Carlos García Rawlins/Reuters)
The vehement dislike of Lai has its roots in his political past, as well as Beijing’s refusal to deal directly with a wide swath of Taiwanese leaders.
The 64-year-old former doctor and political veteran was once an outspoken supporter of Taiwanese independence, a red line for Beijing.
His opinions have moderated over the years, and he now declares himself a supporter of the current status quo, stating that “there is no plan or need” to declare independence, since the island “is already an independent sovereign country.”
But Beijing never forgave him for those first comments, and made its position clear with this Thursday’s drills.
Lai, for his part, set the tone for the new administration regarding China: in his inaugural speech on Monday he declared that “the glorious era of Taiwan’s democracy has arrived” and reiterated his determination to defend its sovereignty.
He also called on Beijing to stop “bullying” Taiwan and respect its people’s right to decide their own destiny.
What is the relationship between China and Taiwan?
The bloody Chinese Civil War ended with the seizure of power on the mainland by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which established the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing in 1949.
The defeated Nationalist Party fled to Taiwan, moving the headquarters of its government from the mainland’s Republic of China (ROC) to Taipei.
Both proclaimed themselves the only legitimate government of all Chinese territory.
In recent years, Taiwan has downplayed its territorial claims to mainland China, and today is a vibrant democracy, with its own military, currency, constitution and elected government.
But it is not recognized as an independent country by most governments in the world. Over the decades it has become increasingly diplomatically isolated, with more and more governments shifting diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. But unofficial diplomatic ties with many Western nations have strengthened in recent years, thanks in part to saber-rattling from China.
Meanwhile, under Xi, China has become increasingly assertive in foreign policy and more authoritarian at home.
China has cut off official communication with Taiwan since the DPP took power in 2016, and has increased economic, military and diplomatic pressure on the island.
At the same time, ties between Taipei and Washington have grown closer, with increased arms sales and high-level political engagement under Lai’s popular predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen. This has angered Beijing, which has unleashed greater pressure on Taiwan and sent cross-Strait relations into a downward spiral.
What is the United States’ position on this matter?
The United States formally switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but has long found itself in a delicate middle ground.
In what is known as the “one China” policy, Washington recognizes the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate government of China; He also recognizes Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China, but never accepted the Chinese Communist Party’s claim to sovereignty over the island.
The United States maintains close unofficial ties with Taiwan, which have been strengthened in recent years. It is obliged by law to provide the democratic island with the means to defend itself, and supplies it with defensive weapons.
U.S. lawmakers regularly visit Taiwan and have supported legislation to bolster U.S. support for the island and its defensive capabilities.
But it has historically remained deliberately vague about whether it would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion, a policy known as “strategic ambiguity.”
Following the island’s elections in January, the United States sent a bipartisan delegation to Taiwan, where it met with Lai and Tsai, and pledged that American support for Taiwan will continue whoever wins the next US election.
This Tuesday, Beijing also announced sanctions against former US House Representative Mike Gallagher, who led that delegation, citing his “comments and actions” that “interfere” in China’s internal affairs.
