On October 14, 2024, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) announced that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has commenced a new round of military exercises near Taiwan, claiming it is a warning to the “Taiwan independence” forces. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has issued a statement strongly condemning the PLA’s irrational provocations and has stated that appropriate forces have been deployed to respond and defend the country’s sovereignty.
The CCP asserts that democratic Taiwan is part of its territory. Since last week, when Taiwan President Lai Ching-te delivered a National Day speech, Taiwan has been on alert, preparing to counter the CCP’s encirclement military exercises.
On Monday morning, PLA Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Li Xi announced that the “Joint Sword-2024B” exercise would be conducted in the Taiwan Strait and the northern, southern, and eastern waters of Taiwan.
The Eastern Theater Command stated that PLA ships and aircraft are approaching Taiwan from different directions, with training scenarios including air and sea patrols, port and airfield blockades, strikes on sea and land targets, and seizing comprehensive control rights. They claim this is a strong deterrent against the “Taiwan independence forces’ separatist activities.”
According to a map released by the Eastern Theater Command, the exercises will take place in nine areas surrounding Taiwan: two near the eastern coast, three near the western coast, one in the north, and three around the islands of Kinmen and Matsu, which are Taiwan’s outlying islands closest to the Chinese mainland.
In response to the PLA exercises, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense issued a statement condemning the CCP’s “irrational provocations” and confirming the deployment of appropriate forces to “safeguard freedom and democracy with practical actions and defend the sovereignty of the Republic of China (Taiwan).”
The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense further noted that President Lai Ching-te’s National Day speech highlighted the current situation across the strait and the firm resolve to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, advocating for future cooperation between both sides on issues such as climate change and epidemic prevention, in pursuit of peace and prosperity.
“The CCP’s so-called ‘provocations and instigations’ completely distort the facts,” stated Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense, emphasizing that escalating tensions across the strait and undermining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are the result of various irrational provocations by the CCP.
A senior Taiwanese security official, in an interview with Reuters, expressed concerns that the CCP is practicing how to block Taiwan’s northern and southern ports and international waterways, as well as preventing foreign military intervention.
Last Sunday, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense announced that the PLA aircraft carrier Liaoning had sailed into waters near the Bashi Strait and is expected to potentially enter the western Pacific. The Bashi Strait, located between Taiwan and the Philippines, holds strategic significance.
Since last Thursday, Chinese state media has published a series of reports and commentaries condemning Lai Ching-te’s speech. On Sunday, the Eastern Theater Command headquarters released a video claiming they are combat-ready.
The United States stated last week that the CCP has no justification to use Lai Ching-te’s National Day speech as an excuse for military pressure.
In May, shortly after Lai Ching-te took office, the CCP conducted a two-day “Joint Sword-2024A” encirclement exercise around Taiwan, claiming it was a “punishment” for his inauguration speech.
Lai Ching-te has repeatedly expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with Beijing but has been consistently rejected. He has emphasized that only the Taiwanese people can determine their future and has rejected Beijing’s sovereignty claims.