In an attempt to suppress growing discontent in Taiwan, China launched 2-day surprise military drills on Thursday around the island, which serves as a warning to separatist forces seeking independence.
Communist-led China has long asserted that the island is China’s national territory, and to prove that, Xi Jinping sent the People’s Liberation Army’s warplanes and navy ships into the Taiwan Strait and around the island.
China’s military drill shook Taiwan’s defense as they scrambled to line up their jets and missile, naval, and land units.
Its newly inaugurated president, Lai Ching-te, called for the communists to end its military threats but vowed that Taiwan will never “yield nor provoke” Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China.
Lai is a member of the pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party, and Beijing considers the party separatist.
“Facing external challenges and threats, we will continue to maintain the values of freedom and democracy,” Lai remarked.
The new president also told China to “face up to the fact that the Republic of Taiwan exists.”
Many observers noted that this line enraged the CPC leadership, which led the communists to implement “countermeasures” to punish Lai’s party and alleged that the DPP was “colluding with external forces in their provocations for independence.”
Chinese news outlets published an operation map showing “Operation Joint Sword-2024A,” which would encircle Taiwan by conducting operations in five different nautical zones.
According to the news outlets, the “A” appended to the name of the military campaign signifies that Taiwan should expect more exercises in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s leadership seems unfazed with the threat, despite the drill being bigger than Jinping’s previous provocations.
The Taiwan Defense Ministry reported that 15 navy ships of the People’s Liberation Army, 33 warplanes, and 15 Chinese coast guard vessels joined the drills.
Taiwan’s officials further said that the exercises were not unexpected. Still, Taiwan lambasted China’s drills and emphasized that such “irrational provocation” demonstrates Beijing’s “militaristic mentality.”
“The launch of military exercises on this occasion not only does not contribute to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,” the ministry said.
“We stand by with firm will and restraint. We seek no conflicts, but we will not shy away from one. We have the confidence to safeguard our national security,” the ministry vowed.
The ministry also added that they had to activate their defenses and jets in the event that China opted to turn the drill into an actual invasion.
