TAIPEI (Reuters) – The Chinese army carried out a new series of military exercises near Taiwan on Monday presented as a warning to “separatist acts by Taiwan independence forces”.
China has threatened new operations if necessary.
Taiwan has been on alert since President Lai Ching-te’s National Day speech last week, during which he said China had no right to represent Taiwan. ‘island.
Beijing, which describes Taiwan’s democratically elected president as a “separatist”, considers Taiwan to be an integral part of its territory.
The Chinese Army’s Eastern Theater Command said the Joint Sword-2024B exercises took place in the Taiwan Strait and areas north, south and east of Taiwan.
Shortly after the announcement of the end of these operations, the Chinese Ministry of Defense warned that these military exercises were not a repeat of the “Joint Sword-2024A” exercises which took place in May, but aimed to accentuate the pressure on Taiwan.
The “Joint Sword-2024A” exercises held in May served as “punishment” after the inauguration speech of Lai Ching-te, deemed “secessionist”.
“The actions of the People’s Liberation Army will go hand in hand with every provocation related to ‘Taiwan independence,’ until the Taiwan issue is completely resolved,” China’s Defense Ministry said in a statement. press release.
China’s military said the drills were “an important warning against separatist acts by Taiwan’s pro-independence forces.”
“This is a legitimate and necessary operation to safeguard state sovereignty and national unity.”
Furthermore, Beijing announced Monday that it had taken sanctions against Robert Tsao, a Taiwanese businessman and elected official, accused by China of alleged criminal and independence activities.
A map released by China shows the nine areas where the maneuvers took place: two on the east coast of the island, three on the west coast, one in the north and three around islands controlled by Taiwan and located nearby from the Chinese coast.
Chinese warships, destroyers and aircraft approached Taiwan “in close proximity from different directions”, focusing on sea-air combat readiness patrols, blockading key ports and areas, and attacking maritime and land targets.
A military statement said the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning and its support ships had been operating east of Taiwan.
As many as 17 Chinese warships and 125 Chinese military aircraft have been detected around Taiwan, according to the Taiwanese Defense Ministry.
In 2022, shortly after the visit to Taiwan of the then Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, China fired missiles over the island.
COAST GUARD INCURSIONS
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that Chinese coast guards had surrounded Taiwan and held “law and order” patrols near the Taiwanese islands of Matsu and Dongyin. She also explained that the navy had entered the “restricted waters” of Matsu Island for the first time in order to “completely destroy” the boundaries set by Taiwanese authorities.
CCTV added that China “may carry out regular law enforcement patrols around Matsu in the future.”
According to officials, the National Security Council led by Lai Ching-te met Monday to discuss the situation.
Taiwan’s president condemned the exercises and said they were “designed to undermine regional peace and stability and continue to coerce neighboring countries by force.”
“The use of military force to threaten other countries goes against the fundamental spirit of the United Nations Charter, which is to resolve disputes peacefully,” the Secretary General told the press. of the National Security Council, Joseph Wu.
According to Chinese state media, the military conducted simulated missile launches, while fighter jets “opened air assault corridors” and bombers flew long-range missions from action.
“BLAZING PROVOCATIONS”
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which is responsible for policy toward China, said Beijing’s recent military maneuvers and its refusal to renounce the use of force constituted “blatant provocations” that seriously undermine regional peace and stability.
Representatives of US President Joe Biden’s administration said, for their part, that Washington was monitoring China’s exercises and that there was no justification for them being held after Lai Ching-te’s speech, considered “normal”.
“We call on the PRC to act with restraint and avoid further action that could undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the wider region, which is essential for peace and prosperity in the region and is a matter of international concern,” said US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, using the initials of the People’s Republic of China, China’s official name.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; with contributions from Fabian Hamacher in Hsinchu, Taiwan, Beijing bureau and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington; writing by Greg Torode and James Pomfret; French version Claude Chendjou, edited by Blandine Hénault)
by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee
