Beijing: On Thursday ( May 23 ), China conducted “punishment” drills all over Taiwan in what it billed as a response to” separatist acts” by deploying heavily armed warplanes and staging mock attacks in response to state media’s criticism of newly elected president Lai Ching-te.
The workouts, in the Taiwan Strait and around parties of Taiwan- managed islands that sit next to the Chinese coast, come only three weeks after Lai took company, a person Beijing calls a” dissident”.
China views Taiwan, which is politically governed, as its own place, and has condemned Lai’s opening statement on Monday, which called on China to cease its threats and said the two straits were” not inferior to each other.”
On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Lai “disgraceful”.
Lai has frequently rebuffed offers to meet with China. He says just Taiwan’s people may consider their potential and rejects Beijing’s independence claims.
The Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army ( PLA ) said it had started joint military drills, involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force, in areas around Taiwan at 7.45am local time.
The training are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, the northwest, south and east of Taiwan, as well as places around the Taiwan- managed islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, the order said in a speech, the first time China’s exercises have included areas round these islands.
According to Chinese state media, China carried out mock strikes of high-value military targets, including ships, using live missiles, and sent out dozens of fighter jets carrying live missiles.
The drills, dubbed” Joint Sword- 2024A”, are scheduled to last for two days. However, unlike a similar” Joint Sword” exercise in April last year, these drills are tagged” A”, opening the door to potential follow- ups.
Taiwan’s defense ministry criticized the exercises, claiming that it had dispatched forces to areas around the island, that its air defenses and land-based missile forces were tracking targets, and that it had faith in its ability to defend its territory.
The ministry said the start of military exercises on this occasion highlights” China’s” militaristic mentality as well as its inability to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.