China's military drills near Taiwan: Warning to 'separatists'
The Chinese People's Liberation Army initiated large-scale military manoeuvres around Taiwan on Tuesday, involving all branches of the military. These exercises aim to simulate a blockade of the island and strikes on both maritime and land targets. According to Beijing, they serve as a warning to Taiwanese "separatists".
The Eastern Theatre Command, responsible for the Taiwan Strait region, reported that the exercises focus on the "blockade on key areas and sea lanes," as well as "assault on maritime and ground targets." The Command's spokesperson, Col. Shi Yi, emphasised 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," alongside 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
Authorities in Taipei condemned the exercises, deeming 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 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 condition for the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation". He does not rule out 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 46 miles from the island's southern coast. Similar manoeuvres, practising the island's isolation, took place in October last year.
Taiwanese authorities reported on Tuesday morning the detection of 19 Chinese ships in the past 24 hours, as well as the deployment of the aircraft carrier Shandong near the island by China. 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 acquired the capability to impose a maritime blockade on Taiwan. However, given that such an action would constitute an act of war, China's armed forces might undertake "quarantine" as a less escalatory form of pressure.
Taiwan is particularly vulnerable to blockade due to its high dependency on imported energy sources (96 per cent of which is imported gas or coal) and food (70 per cent).
Tensions between China and Taiwan date back to 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 was partially or wholly governed by the Dutch, the Spanish, the Qing dynasty, and Japan.
