Starting Thursday morning, China launches two days of military drills

Starting Thursday morning, China launches two days of military drills

2024-05-23

The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army on Thursday morning launched two days of military exercises around Taiwan without warning. The Chinese government says the exercises are a strong “punishment” for “Taiwan separatists.” The scope of the exercises covers the Taiwan Strait, and the surrounds of Taiwan proper, along with the outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin. The military immediately responded with a video displaying its determination to defend Taiwan’s national sovereignty.

After President Lai Ching-te took office on May 20, the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army suddenly announced it would stage exercises around Taiwan on May 23 and 24.
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For these military exercises, China’s navy, land, air force and rocket force were all deployed.

They started at 7:45 a.m. on Thursday, covering the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan’s northern, southern and eastern areas, along with the outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin. China marked out a total of five sea and air drill areas, all within Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone.

China once more is flexing its military muscles. The Ministry of National Defense immediately responded by releasing a video.

The Taiwanese military emphasized that it had responded with deployments of sea, air and ground forces.

It said it adhered to the principles of prepare for war but do not seek it out, respond to war and do not avoid it.

In the afternoon, it released footage of the navy’s Pan Chao Frigate monitoring a Chinese warship, the Shaoxing.

Po Horng-huei
Deputy defense minister
These kinds of irrational actions that undermine regional peace are not welcomed by the international community. From the past to the current moment, we can see that the international community does not welcome any irrational and unilateral changes to regional security and stability.

Internationally, Japan and the U.S. have both expressed concerns.

Hayashi Yoshimasa
Chief cabinet secretary of Japan
We will continue to communicate directly and clearly with China about the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Stephen Sklenka, the deputy commander of the U.S Indo-Pacific Command, criticized China for trying to normalize its unusual actions, and stressed that although the PLA’s actions had long been anticipated, they still needed to be publicly condemned.

Stephen Sklenka
US Indo-Pacific Command
The PLA continues to exercise critical elements of a potential military invasion of Taiwan. Last year, they simulated a maritime and air blockade of the island.

President Lai Ching-te and senior national security officials went to Taoyuan to boost the morale of the capital’s only field force, the 66 marine brigade. Lai also addressed the nation’s people for the first time in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Lai Ching-te
President
I will stand on the front line with my brothers and sisters in our national military to jointly protect national security. At this moment, the international community is paying close attention to democratic Taiwan. And in the face of external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend values of freedom and democracy, while protecting peace and stability in the region.

KMT lawmaker Chen Yu-chen believes that the Chinese military exercises are a response to President Lai’s inauguration speech on May 20. Meanwhile DPP lawmaker Chen Kuan-ting argued that the KMT and China were in cahoots, one creating chaos in the legislature, and the other carrying out military exercises aimed at Taiwan. This was aimed at dividing Taiwanese society and putting pressure on the Lai administration.

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