China encircled Taiwan with naval vessels and aircraft, as part of a two-day military procedure according to state media. The surrounded territory comprises the Taiwan Strait, north, south and east of Taiwan Island, and areas surrounding the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin. Beijing has asserted the maneuver as a signal toward Taiwan’s independence groups working in concert with external forces, such as the United States.
Li Xi, a spokesperson for the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, advised that the combined exercises, codenamed Joint Sword-2024A, would span from Thursday to Friday. Li expounded the drills’ focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on strategic targets.
These drills followed soon after Lai Ching-te was inaugurated as Taiwan’s President. Acknowledged as a controversial figure in China due to his ties with the U.S., Lai engaged in discussions a month ago, about enhancing Taiwan’s economic resistance against China by welcoming more American exports to the island.
In response to these developments, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defence issued a statement confirming that they have escalated their armed forces to “high alert” in response to the “irrational provocations and disruptions to regional peace and stability”.
Taiwan regards itself distinct from the Chinese mainland, possessing a democratically elected government and a distinct legal system. Particularly under Xi Jinping’s regime, Beijing pledged to annex the island through any necessary means. At this point, China’s operations remain within a grey zone, not culminating in a full-scale invasion.