Chinese warships and fighter jets surrounded Taiwan this Friday on the second day of exercises that, according to Beijing, tested its ability to take over the autonomous island, days after its new president took office. William Lai.
The Chinese military began war exercises on Thursday morning, surrounding the territory with warships and military aircraft while promising that the blood of the “independence forces” on the island would flow.
The exercises were launched after Lai took office as Taiwan’s new president this week and delivered an inauguration speech that China denounced as a “confession of independence.”
The exercises are part of a growing intimidation campaign by China which has carried out a series of large-scale military exercises across Taiwan in recent years.
They are testing the “capability of joint seizure of power, joint attacks and control of key territories”, said Li Xi, spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (EPL).
China, which broke away from Taiwan at the end of a civil war 75 years ago, views the island as a renegade province with which it must eventually reunify.
The dispute has long made the Taiwan Strait in one of the world’s most dangerous flashpoints, and this week’s events have stoked fears that China could use military force to bring the island under continental rule.
The United States, Taiwan’s strongest ally and military backer, on Thursday “strongly” urged China to exercise restraint. The United Nations called on all parties to avoid escalation.
When the exercises, codenamed “Joint Sword 2024A,” began, China said they would serve as “strong punishment for the separatist acts of the forces of the ‘Taiwan independence’”.
Footage released by China’s military showed soldiers leaving a building toward battle stations and planes taking off to a rousing martial tune.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that Chinese sailors had called their Taiwanese counterparts at sea, warning them against “resisting reunification by force.”
And an animated graphic released by the Chinese military showed missiles falling on key targets in the north, south and east of the island, declaring that “they would cut the blood vessels for Taiwan independence.”
The coast guard of Taipei reported on Friday that four ships of its Chinese counterpart entered the “restricted waters” from two Taiwanese islands while two others nearby provided support.
“This is the eighth time this month that Chinese coast guard ships have sailed in restricted waters”The Taipei coast guard said, adding that the ships left around 9 a.m. (0100 GMT).
“We urge China to exercise restraint and immediately stop its irrational behavior,” he added.
China has repeatedly called Lai a “dangerous separatist” who would bring “war and decay” to the island.
Lai said in a speech on Thursday that he would “be on the front line” to defend Taiwan, without directly referring to the ongoing exercises.
Beijing was outraged by his inauguration speech on Monday, in which he hailed a “glorious” era for Taiwan’s democracy.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbinissued a warning Thursday that included language more widely used by China’s propaganda media.
“Taiwan independence forces They will be left with their heads broken and blood flowing after crashing into the great…trend of China achieving complete unification,” Wang told reporters.
Beijing’s Xinhua news agency and the ruling party’s organ, the People’s Daily, published editorials praising the drills on Friday, while criticizing Lai’s “treacherous behavior” and promising a “severe blow.”
The drills are being carried out in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island, as well as in areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin administered by Taipei.
Beijing has said the drills will last until Friday, but analysts say he could choose to extend the war exercises or launch missiles near Taiwan, as he did after a visit to the island by then-speaker of the House of Representatives of Taiwan. United States, Nancy Pelosi, in 2022.
Taipei’s Defense Ministry said Thursday that the Chinese military had approached to within 24 nautical miles (44 kilometers) of the main island of Taiwan.
With information from AFP
