The ruling Communist Party of China asserts Taiwan as an integral part of its territory, despite never having governed it, and has pledged to reunify the island, even through military means if deemed necessary.
China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) announced the commencement of joint military exercises encompassing the army, navy, air force, and rocket force in regions surrounding Taiwan at 7:45 a.m. on Thursday.
PLA Naval Colonel Li Xi, spokesperson for the command, characterized the exercises as "a robust response to the separatist actions of Taiwan independence forces and a stern caution against interference and provocation by external entities."
According to a senior official handling Taiwan's security affairs, as of noon Thursday, the island detected approximately 30 Chinese aircraft, the majority of which breached the Median Line into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ). The Median Line serves as an informal boundary in the Taiwan Strait, unrecognized by Beijing but historically adhered to until recent times.
In addition to the aerial activity, the Chinese military dispatched roughly a dozen warships around Taiwan, along with a dozen Coast Guard vessels near the island's outlying territories, as per the official's account.
Taiwan has responded by deploying its own naval assets to monitor the situation. Notably, there have been no reported sightings of Chinese aircraft carriers involved in the drills thus far.
"Irrational provocation.
Taiwan's Lai is regarded unfavorably by Beijing as a "dangerous separatist" due to his advocacy for the island's sovereignty and unique identity. Succeeding two-term president Tsai Ing-wen, Lai commenced an unprecedented third consecutive term in power for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.
Beijing has criticized Lai's inauguration speech, where he urged China to cease its intimidation of Taiwan.
Taiwan's Defense Ministry has condemned China's military exercises as "irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability." In response to the drills, the ministry deployed sea, air, and ground forces, emphasizing its readiness to defend national security while avoiding conflicts.
Presidential spokeswoman Karen Kuo expressed regret over China's threats to Taiwan's democracy, freedom, and regional peace and stability through unilateral military actions. She affirmed Taiwan's commitment to defending democracy and its confidence in protecting national security.
Despite the ongoing tensions, life in the capital city of Taipei proceeded as usual, with Taiwanese news outlets covering a range of topics beyond the Chinese drills, including recent political developments and tax-related matters during the tax season.
Meanwhile, Taipei's main stock index, the TAIEX, showed a 0.26 percent increase in mid-afternoon trading.
Propaganda campaign
China's military exercises serve not only to signal international intentions but also to resonate with a domestic audience through a concerted propaganda effort. Both the Chinese military and state media have actively promoted and emphasized coverage of the drills, which remained a prominent topic on tightly controlled Chinese social media platforms.
Footage released by the PLA's Eastern Theater Command showcased activities such as a guided missile frigate, the Nantong, and a pilot preparing to board a fighter jet at a military base.
The rhetoric from Chinese state media and the PLA framed the exercises as strategic maneuvers aimed at encircling Taiwan, including the intimidation of nearby outlying islands situated close to mainland China.
According to China's state broadcaster CCTV, multiple destroyer and frigate formations from the Eastern Theater Command Navy conducted high-speed maneuvers in the waters surrounding Taiwan, employing an omnidirectional approach towards the island. Additionally, the command's air force deployed numerous fighter jets to both Taiwan's main island and its outlying territories.
The report detailed the coordinated efforts of various aircraft, armed with live ammunition, as they established strategic positions in predetermined airspace to simulate attacks on high-value military targets and reconnaissance assets of the perceived "enemy."
In another propaganda effort, CCTV published a series of posters featuring what it labels as "magic weapons" capable of combating separatist movements advocating Taiwan independence. These posters showcase various military assets, including fighter jets, destroyers, amphibious transport docks, and ballistic missiles, although it remains unclear if these specific assets were utilized in the ongoing drills.
On Thursday, a Taiwanese sailor on board a Taiwan Navy vessel observes a Chinese warship off the western coast of Taiwan. Image credit: Taiwan Defence Ministry/Reuters.According to Carl Schuster, a former director of operations at the US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, Beijing aims to underscore Taiwan's reliance on older and less abundant military equipment.
Schuster highlighted the strain on Taiwan's aging F-16s, which are over two decades old. Each flight hour on these aircraft brings them closer to requiring refurbishment, rendering them inactive for extended periods ranging from 1 to 4 months. This not only depletes the available aircraft but also places additional stress on the overall force, keeping them in a state of heightened readiness.
In addition to the military exercises conducted around Taiwan's main island, Schuster pointed out the provocative actions of China's Coast Guard and other forces near the outlying islands under Taipei's control.
He emphasized that such actions put Taiwan in a challenging position. Any military or forceful response risks escalating tensions and potentially triggering a conflict.
A Taiwanese sailor aboard a naval vessel from Taiwan Navy observes a Chinese warship off Taiwan's western coast on Thursday. This strategic maneuver highlights Beijing's attempt to underscore Taiwan's reliance on aging and less abundant military equipment.
Carl Schuster, former director of operations at the US Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center, elaborated on Beijing's tactics. He emphasized that Taiwan's fleet of F-16s, now exceeding 20 years in service, faces increasing strain with each flight hour. The maintenance demands draw these aircraft closer to refurbishment, sidelining them for 1 to 4 months and adding pressure to Taiwan's military readiness.
Schuster also noted China's provocative actions, such as deploying its Coast Guard and other forces into waters near Taiwan's outlying islands. These maneuvers, in addition to military drills around Taiwan's main island, place Taiwan in a precarious position. Any forceful response from Taiwan risks escalating tensions and potentially sparking a conflict.