Thursday 5/23/2024
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Last update 11:27
The Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China began joint military exercises around the island of Taiwan at 7:45 this Thursday, according to Beijing time.
The exercises were taking place in the Taiwan Strait, to the north, south and east of the island, as well as in areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.
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Command spokesman Li Xi said the exercises also serve as a strong punishment for the separatist actions of the “Taiwan independence” forces.
They are also, as he explained, a severe warning against interference and provocation by external forces, according to information from the Xinhua news agency.
China announces the new operation. Credit: Tingshu Wang/Reuters
“It is completely legitimate and necessary for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to conduct joint military exercises around the island of Taiwan, safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, vigorously punish the forces “Taiwan independence” separatists for seeking “independence,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin stressed in a daily press conference.
He stated that all this also constitutes a serious warning against interference and provocation by external forces.
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Military services, including the Army, Navy, Air Force and theater rocket command force, are being organized to conduct the joint exercises, codenamed Joint Sword-2024A, from Thursday to Friday.
The exercises focus on sea-air combat readiness patrolling, joint comprehensive battlefield control capture and joint precision strikes on key targets, Li explained.
Illustrative image. Credit: Eastern Theater Command
He added that they involve patrolling with ships and aircraft near the areas around the island of Taiwan and integrated operations inside and outside the island chain to test the joint actual combat capabilities of the command’s forces.
