As a vehement response to the recent visit of Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai to the United States, which is considered a significant rival to Beijing, China initiated a series of military drills in the vicinity of Taiwan.
The military exercises were labeled as a “stern warning” to separatist forces on the island that Beijing perceives as a part of its own territory.
However, the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), responsible for Taiwan, issued a concise statement on Saturday morning, announcing the commencement of joint naval and air combat readiness patrols in the vicinity of the island.
China hasn’t ruled out the use of force to regain control of Taiwan, which it views as a democratic and autonomous region.
Additionally, in response to perceived collusion between Taipei and Washington, Beijing has intensified its military exercises around Taiwan in recent years.
The patrols and exercises serve as a stern warning to the collusion of ‘Taiwan independence separatists’ with foreign elements and their provocations.
The Eastern Theatre Command said that the PLA would execute joint naval and air force drills with an emphasis on testing “actual combat capabilities” and the coordination of ships and aircraft to assess the potential for seizing control of airspace and sea regions.
China’s recent military maneuvers
Meanwhile, China’s recent military maneuvers were widely considered to have been triggered by Vice President William Lai’s visit to the United States, according to Taiwanese officials and analysts.
China’s foreign ministry expressed opposition to any visit by “Taiwan independence separatists” to the US, characterizing Lai as a steadfast adherent of Taiwan independence and a “troublemaker.”
Taiwan’s defense ministry issued a vehement denouncement of China’s latest military exercises near the island, asserting its resolve to respond and maintain national security. The ministry declared that it possessed both the capability and determination to safeguard its interests.
Furthermore, in a joint statement, US President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida condemned Beijing’s “dangerous and aggressive” conduct in the South China Sea. They pledged to bolster regional security, enhance engagement in the Indo-Pacific, and foster mutual prosperity.
China had conducted extensive military drills near Taiwan last year as a response to the visit of Nancy Pelosi, then-Speaker of the US House of Representatives, to Taipei. These drills spanned a record-breaking six days and included tests of the J-20 stealth fighter and conventional missiles.
