China announced that it had deployed planes and ships on Monday to surround Taiwan, saying it wanted to send a “serious warning” to the forces “separatists” of the island, managed autonomously.
The operations, called Joint Sword-2024B, are taking place “in areas to the north, south and east of the island of Taiwan”explained Captain Li Xi, spokesperson for the Chinese army’s Eastern Command.
They “focus on sea-air combat readiness patrols, blockade of ports and key areas”, “the assault of maritime and land targets” as well as “the joint acquisition of global superiority”he added.
China described these new exercises as “serious warning” facing the “separatist actions of the forces of +Taiwan independence+”. “This is a legitimate and necessary operation to safeguard the sovereignty of the State and national unity”Captain Li Xi estimated.
On Friday, the United States warned China against any « provocation » towards Taiwan, the day after the Taiwanese national holiday which gave rise to acrimonious exchanges between Taipei and Beijing.
“The whole world has every interest in maintaining peace and stability, in preserving the status quo, in avoiding any type of conflict likely to disrupt essential elements of the global economy”had underlined the American Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
“Irrational”
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry on Monday condemned a “irrational and provocative behavior” of China, ensuring that it has “deployed adequate forces to respond appropriately in order to protect freedom and democracy, as well as to defend sovereignty” the Taiwan.
“Faced with the enemy threat, all the officers and soldiers of the country are ready (…) We are determined and confident (of being able) to ensure the defense of national security”added the ministry in a press release.
An AFP team near Hsinchu Air Base in northern Taiwan saw four fighter jets take off on Monday.
The Chinese coast guard later explained that it had engaged “law enforcement inspections in the waters surrounding the island of Taiwan”.
The Taiwanese coast guard, for its part, said it had detected boats from its Chinese counterparts around the island. “Several boats” crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait — referring to the line that bisects this 180-kilometer-wide strait between the island and mainland China — and remained “in our northern, southwest and eastern waters in the form of convoys”they said in a press release.
Map of Taiwan and China showing in particular the median line of the Taiwan Strait, the unofficial demarcation between China and Taiwan that Beijing does not recognize / Jean-Michel CORNU, Patricio ARANA / AFP
China considers Taiwan as a part of its territory to be reunited one day and has never renounced using military force to regain control.
It has increased pressure in recent years by strengthening its military activity around the island, maintaining a near-constant presence using military planes and ships.
Beijing has organized three series of large-scale maneuvers in the past two years, using its air force and navy to encircle the island.
On Sunday, the Taiwanese army claimed to be “on alert” after detecting the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning to the south of the island.
“Separatist”
Relations between Beijing and Taipei have been terrible since 2016 and the arrival as Taiwanese president of Tsai Ing-wen, then of her successor Lai Ching-te in 2024.
Invested in May, Mr. Lai committed Thursday to “resist annexation” of the island or “the encroachment of (its) sovereignty”, during the Taiwanese national day.
He also expressed his wish to have “healthy and orderly dialogue and exchanges” with China, calling on Beijing to use its influence instead to help resolve conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te delivers a speech on the occasion of National Day, October 10, 2024 in Taipei / WALID BERRAZEG / AFP
Beijing, which describes Mr. Lai as “separatist”reacted by warning that the « provocations » of the Taiwanese president would lead to a “disaster” for his people.
China’s official television channel CCTV broadcast a video on Monday titled: “The greater the provocation, the tighter the reins will be”.
Beijing has long tried to block contacts between Taipei and its international partners in order to isolate it, preventing it from participating in global forums and putting pressure on its rare official supporters.
Washington has recognized Beijing to the detriment of Taipei as a legitimate power since 1979, but remains Taiwan’s most powerful ally and its main arms supplier.
Disputes between Beijing and Taipei date back to the long and deadly civil war which pitted communist fighters led by Mao Tse-tung against the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek.
Defeated by the communists, who founded the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, the nationalists took refuge with many civilians in Taiwan, one of the only parts of the national territory then not conquered by the forces of Mao Tse-tung .
