Dave Sullivan
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has initiated yet another military exercise near Taiwan, aimed at discouraging “separatism,” as announced by the Defense Ministry on Tuesday.
According to Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, the drill involves various branches including the army, navy, air force, and rocket forces. It emphasizes joint sea-air combat readiness, coordinated efforts for overall dominance, attacks on maritime and land targets, and blockades of significant areas and maritime routes.
Reports from Taiwanese officials, cited by Reuters, indicate that the PLA has dispatched ten military vessels toward Taiwan, prompting a naval response from Taiwan’s military.
The American Institute in Taiwan, which operates like an embassy, characterized the exercise as evidence that China is “not a responsible actor and poses a risk to regional security and prosperity,” as reported by the news agency.
Beijing has portrayed the drills as a message to “separatist forces” advocating for Taiwanese independence. Despite being claimed by China, Taiwan functions under a government established by nationalist factions defeated by the Communists during the 1940s Chinese Civil War. A cartoon produced by the PLA depicts Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te as a bug, labeling her a “parasite courting [the] ultimate destruction” of the island.
Taipei maintains a strong relationship with the United States, which acknowledges China’s claims but continues to offer military support to Taiwan despite objections from Beijing. Recently, senior Taiwanese officials attended a ceremony at a Lockheed Martin factory in Greenville, South Carolina, celebrating the delivery of the first of 66 advanced F-16 Block 70 Viper fighter jets ordered by Taiwan.
China considers US arms sales to Taiwan as provocative and a trigger for separatism. Although Chinese policy emphasizes a pursuit of peaceful reunification, it has not dismissed the possibility of using force should Taiwan declare itself independent.