China conducts military exercises around Taiwan aimed at ‘deterring separatist forces’

China’s People’s Liberation Army launched a new round of military exercises in waters around Taiwan on Monday, as Beijing increases military pressure against the island democracy four days after its leader rejected the Chinese government’s claim over Taiwan.

The Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command said it’s conducting a joint military exercise titled “Joint Sword-2024B” in waters around northern, southern and eastern Taiwan, as well as the northern end of the Taiwan Strait.

The command issued a statement saying the army, navy, air force and rocket forces would conduct sea-air combat-readiness patrols and drills to simulate blockading key ports and assaulting maritime and ground targets.

The exercise “serves as a stern warning to the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces. It is a legitimate and necessary operation for safeguarding state sovereignty and national unity,” said Li Xi, Eastern Theater Command spokesperson.

In response, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense issued a statement condemning the provocative drills and vowed to defend Taiwan’s democracy, freedom and sovereignty.

“The different kinds of irrational and provocative actions taken by China is the source that intensifies tension and damages peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait,” the Taiwanese defense ministry said in the statement released Monday morning.

In Washington late Sunday, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller released a statement that said, “The United States is seriously concerned by the People’s Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan. The PRC response with military provocations to a routine annual speech is unwarranted and risks escalation.”

“We continue to monitor PRC activities and coordinate with allies and partners regarding our shared concerns,” the statement said.

At 6 p.m. local time, China’s Eastern Theater Command announced the conclusion of the military exercise, saying that the PLA has “fully tested the integrated joint operation capabilities of its troops” and vowed to “keep strengthening combat readiness with arduous training.”

Some military analysts say the Chinese military is aiming to simulate joint blockade warfare and joint force attacks, and enforce control over Taiwan’s offshore islands through this particular exercise.

“The Chinese military is simulating how to cut off Taiwan’s air and sea traffic to the outside world and prevent Taiwan’s naval and air forces from being mobilized through the deployment of their naval and air forces to designated areas around the island,” Chieh Chung, a research fellow at the Association of Strategic Foresight in Taiwan, told VOA in a written response.

In his view, Chieh said Beijing is trying to improve its capabilities to impose a total blockade around Taiwan by staging military drills in areas that directly correspond to all of Taiwan’s key ports.

The exercise comes four days after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te sent a firm message to Beijing during his National Day speech on October 10, arguing that the People’s Republic of China, China’s official name, has no right to represent Taiwan.

By William Yang