China launches ‘punitive’ military exercises near Taiwan
23 May 2024 10:02
China has launched two days of military exercises around Taiwan in response to the inauguration of the island’s new president, Lai Tsing-jeou. Beijing calls it a “punishment” for “separatist actions” and a warning against interference by “external forces,” reports "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing CNN.
The People’s Liberation Army of China has deployed various units, including the army, navy, air force and missile forces. The exercises are taking place in the Taiwan Strait, as well as to the north, south and east of the island and around remote islands off the Chinese coast.
China considers Taiwan its territory and threatens to take it by force. Beijing has called Lai a “dangerous separatist” for defending Taiwan’s sovereignty. Lai Tsingde called on China to stop intimidation.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defence condemned the exercise as “irrational provocations” and announced the deployment of its own defence forces. The presidential spokeswoman regretted that China was threatening democracy and stability in the region, but Taiwan was ready to defend itself.
Under Xi Jinping’s rule, China has increased pressure on Taiwan in various spheres: diplomatic, economic, and military. This is due to the strengthening of the island democracy’s informal ties with the United States.
In 2022, China conducted large-scale exercises near Taiwan in protest at the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It was Beijing’s largest show of force in recent years, simulating a blockade.
Since then, Chinese planes have regularly violated Taiwan’s air defence identification zone and crossed the midline in the Taiwan Strait, an informal border that Beijing does not recognise.
On the eve of President Lai Tsing-jeou’s inauguration, China also put pressure on the island nation by sending a record number of aircraft into Taiwan’s airspace in one day.
Experts believe that China’s latest exercises are “intimidation tactics” rather than a sign of imminent war. Beijing has a “coercive toolkit” to demonstrate its power.
The name of the exercise, Joint Sword-2024A, may indicate the next round later this year. However, according to experts, such actions are part of long-term preparations for a potential conflict with Taiwan.
