Beijing has begun live ammunition exercises around Taiwan simulating attacks against sea and land targets, anti-submarine operations and maneuvers to achieve “regional air superiority”. The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command deployed fighters, bombers and drones, in coordination with long-range artillery, to conduct simulated attacks against “mobile ground targets” in the central areas of the Straits. In operations around the island, destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers were used in the waters and airspace north and southwest of Taiwan.
Simulated attacks
“The training focuses on hunting and neutralizing targets in water and airspace, simulated attacks against land targets and live fire against targets at sea,” said the army, which, in a third phase, undertook maneuvers with warships and aircraft in waters and airspace east of the island, focusing on “attacking sea targets, achieving regional air superiority, as well as submarine hunting and anti-submarine operations.” The exercises tested coordination capabilities. air-sea and the precise search, identification and neutralization of targets”, we read in a statement.
Global patrols
According to Meng Xiangqing, of the National Defense University of China, the “block and control” operations were the most important of these exercises and cited as examples two areas off the port of Keelung, on the north-eastern coast of Taiwan, and the maritime and air space of Kaohsiung, the main southern port city of the island.
Meanwhile, the Chinese Coast Guard announced the start of “comprehensive law enforcement” patrols in waters near Taiwan and around the Matsu and Wuqiu archipelagos, close to the Chinese coast but controlled by Taipei.
A “practical measure” to “exercise jurisdiction”
According to spokesperson Zhu Anqing, the operation constitutes a “practical measure” to “exercise jurisdiction” in accordance with the “one China” principle, supported by Beijing, over Taiwan and adjacent islands. These maneuvers are part of Operation Justice-2025, announced by the Chinese authorities, who described it as aimed at “sending a serious warning” to the Taiwanese independence forces and foreign powers that, in Beijing’s opinion, are interfering in the Taiwanese question.
Taiwan’s condemnation: military intimidation
Taiwan has “strongly” condemned China’s use of “military intimidation”. “In response to Chinese authorities’ failure to comply with international norms and use of military intimidation to threaten neighboring countries, Taiwan expresses its strong condemnation,” Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo said in a statement.
Response to provocations
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry also called the Chinese exercises “irrational provocations” and “military harassment.” Taipei therefore ensured that it had activated a response center and had deployed “adequate” forces in accordance with protocols to “protect freedom and democracy” and safeguard national sovereignty. The Ministry of Defense stressed that “defending democracy and freedom is not a provocation” and that the existence of the Republic of China (Taiwan’s official name) “cannot be used as a pretext by an aggressor to alter the status quo.” In this sense, it considered that the announced maneuvers confirm Beijing’s “aggressive nature” and position it as “the main disturber of peace”, while reinforcing the need to accelerate the construction of a “highly resilient and integral deterrence” defensive capacity. Taipei insisted that only “seeking peace through force” can achieve real peace and argued that, faced with the “serious threat” from China, the Taiwanese armed forces will maintain a prudent assessment of the adversary: ”they will not underestimate its capacity, but they will not underestimate themselves either.” The statement concludes that military personnel will remain on “high alert”, ready to respond and “protect democratic values, national sovereignty and security” of the island’s population.