This Monday, China ended military maneuvers around Taiwan in which it simulated a blockade and the seizure of ports and key areas of the island, as a warning to the territory’s “independence forces”. This is the fifth time that Beijing has resorted to this type of war game since 2022, the year in which it carried out the first of this caliber in response to the visit to Taiwan by the then speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, which angered China and raised tensions between the two sides of the strait to levels not seen in decades.
The current maneuvers, called Joint Sword-2024B, involved the aircraft carrier Liaoning, as well as Chinese Army land, sea and air troops. According to the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense, China used 125 military aircraft in the exercises in question and 90 of the devices, including warplanes, helicopters and drones, were seen within Taiwan’s Air Defense Identification Zone.
According to Li Xi, spokesman for the Chinese Army’s Eastern Theater Command, the maneuvers “were successful and thoroughly tested the combat capabilities of our troops.” “Troops are always on alert and will continue to strengthen their training and preparations with a view to resolutely stopping Taiwan’s separatist activities,” Li said, adding that the exercises served as a “punishment” for the “separatist acts” of the island’s authorities. .
Beijing is referring to statements made last week by Taiwan President William Lai that China “has no right to represent” the island. Words that did not please Beijing, which has already warned that it will take new measures against the island if “the secessionist forces seeking independence continue to provoke”.
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