China escalates tensions with massive military drills near Taiwan
The Chinese People's Liberation Army initiated large-scale military manoeuvres around Taiwan on Tuesday, engaging all branches of the military. The exercises aim to simulate a blockade of the island and strikes on maritime and land targets. According to Beijing, these actions serve as a warning to Taiwanese "separatists."
The Eastern Theatre Command, responsible for the Taiwan Strait region, reported that the exercises focus on "blockade on key areas and sea lanes," and "assault on maritime and ground targets." The Command's spokesperson, Col. Shi Yi, emphasized that these actions are "a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity."
The Chinese army released graphics on social media, including a video depicting the President of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, as a "parasite" and a poster showing Chinese fighter planes and ships around the island, with the phrase "we are approaching" written in traditional Chinese characters used in Taiwan.
Taiwan reacts
The authorities in Taipei condemned the exercises, labelling them a threat to peace and stability in the region. Taiwan's Ministry of Defence reported the deployment of forces to monitor the situation and respond accordingly.
The communist authorities in Beijing assert that Taiwan is a part of China, although they have never exercised control over the territory. The leader of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping, maintains that "unification of the motherland" is inevitable and a requirement for the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." He does not rule out a military intervention to achieve this. According to Beijing, Taiwan's democratically elected President, Lai Ching-te, is a "dangerous separatist."
The largest exercises
These current exercises are the largest since February, when Taipei reported Chinese "live-fire" drills involving aircraft and warships about 74 kilometres from the island's southern coast. Similar manoeuvres, practising the island's isolation, occurred in October last year.
Taiwanese authorities reported on Tuesday morning the detection of 19 Chinese ships in the past 24 hours, along with the deployment by China of the aircraft carrier Shandong near the island. Taiwan's Ministry of Defence has established a centre to monitor Chinese military activities.
The capability for a maritime blockade of Taiwan
Last week, the American newspaper "Wall Street Journal" noted that the Chinese army has developed the capability for a maritime blockade of Taiwan. However, given that such an action would constitute an act of war, China's armed forces may undertake "quarantine" as a less aggressive form of pressure.
Taiwan is particularly vulnerable to a blockade due to its high dependency on imported energy sources (96% of which is imported gas or coal) and food (70%).
Tensions between China and Taiwan have persisted since 1949 when the nationalist Kuomintang forces, led by Chiang Kai-shek, fled to the island after losing the civil war to Mao Zedong's communists. Over time, the island has been partially or wholly governed by the Dutch, the Spanish, the Qing dynasty, and Japan.
