China’s military has launched a new round of exercises around Taiwan, framing the move as a direct warning to pro-independence forces on the self-ruled island.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) described the drills, announced on Tuesday, as a "powerful deterrent" against those advocating for Taiwan’s independence.
According to the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command, the exercises are designed to test the coordination of China’s army, navy, air force, and rocket force in a joint military operation. The drills will be carried out from multiple directions around Taiwan and focus on combat readiness patrols, strategic control of key areas, and simulated strikes on land and sea.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense condemned the exercises and responded by deploying military vessels and aircraft to monitor Chinese activities, local media reported.
Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to bring it under Chinese control, by force if necessary. The Communist Party views Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as “separatists” and has intensified military pressure in response to their policies.
Wen-ti Sung, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, told Al Jazeera that the drills appear aimed at isolating Taiwan by restricting its access to key maritime routes. He noted that analysts have long warned about the possibility of China imposing an economic blockade to pressure Taiwan into submission.
The latest military exercises follow a speech by Lai last month in which he labeled Beijing a “foreign hostile force” and outlined a 17-point strategy to counter its influence operations, espionage, and political interference in Taiwan.
In an unusual move, the PLA accompanied its announcement with multimedia content, including an animated depiction of Lai as a "parasite poisoning Taiwan," being burned with chopsticks.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office condemned Lai in a statement on Monday, accusing him of provoking tensions and fueling anti-China sentiment.
Despite Beijing’s increasing military maneuvers, Sung suggested that Lai’s policy toward China enjoys strong domestic backing. A recent poll by Taiwanese outlet My Formosa showed that Lai’s trust and approval ratings rose to 56.7% and 55.6%, respectively, following his speech.
China has steadily ramped up military drills around Taiwan since August 2022, following then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s landmark visit. Previous large-scale exercises coincided with Lai’s inauguration in May 2024 and Taiwan’s national day in October. Smaller drills were also conducted in December after Lai’s diplomatic visits to the Pacific and stopovers in the U.S. territories of Hawaii and Guam.
Source: Al Jazeera
BDST: 1042 HRS, APR 01, 2025
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