China has launched a fresh round of military drills around Taiwan, sending a clear message to what it calls “separatist” forces on the self-ruled island. The exercises, which began on Monday, were described by Beijing as a “stern warning” and represent the fourth set of large-scale war games around Taiwan in the past two years. China has not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control, and the drills demonstrate its continued military pressure on the island.
The latest exercises come just days after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Beijing against retaliating to a speech by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te during Taiwan’s National Day celebrations. Lai, who assumed office in May, has been more vocal about defending Taiwan’s sovereignty compared to his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen. Lai’s stance has drawn anger from Beijing, which has labeled him a “separatist.” Taiwan, in response, condemned China’s drills as “irrational and provocative” and announced it had dispatched “appropriate forces” to monitor the situation.
The drills, dubbed Joint Sword-2024B, are focused on testing joint operations capabilities, according to Chinese military officials. They involve operations in areas to the north, south, and east of Taiwan and include air and sea combat-readiness patrols, blockades on key ports, and simulated assaults on maritime and ground targets. China’s coast guard also participated, conducting “inspections” around Taiwan, with Chinese fleets reportedly encircling the island.
Taiwan’s defense ministry confirmed that its forces had detected Chinese coast guard ships in the island’s northern, southwestern, and eastern waters. In addition, a Chinese aircraft carrier group was spotted in the Bashi Channel to Taiwan’s south, possibly heading towards the western Pacific. Taiwan responded by putting its forces on high alert. “All officers and soldiers of the country are in full readiness,” said Taiwan’s defense ministry, adding that the nation was “determined and confident” in its ability to safeguard its security.
In his speech last Thursday, President Lai vowed to “resist annexation” and reiterated that Taiwan and Beijing were “not subordinate to each other.” Beijing, in turn, warned that Lai’s “provocations” would bring disaster to the people of Taiwan. Chinese state media emphasized that these drills are a “legitimate and necessary operation” to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity, signaling China’s ongoing determination to prevent what it sees as attempts to push Taiwan toward formal independence.
This ongoing dispute between China and Taiwan dates back to the civil war of 1949, when nationalist forces fled to Taiwan after being defeated by the communists. Today, Taiwan maintains its own government, military, and currency, though Beijing continues its efforts to diplomatically isolate the island on the international stage.
