BEIJING, China: China on Thursday morning began two days of military exercises involving naval vessels and aircraft “surrounding the island of Taiwan”, state media said.
The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) started joint military drills surrounding the island of Taiwan from 7:45 a.m. Thursday (2345 GMT),” said Xinhua news agency. It further said that the exercises were taking place in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island.
The exercises, codenamed Joint Sword-2024A and involving the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command, take place three days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as the self-ruled island’s new president.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has called Lai a “dangerous separatist” who will bring “war and decay” to the island.
Xinhua reported that military spokesman Li Xi said the exercise would focus on joint sea-air combat readiness patrols, joint takeover of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets.
Li added that the exercises include patrols by vessels and aircraft approaching the areas around Taiwan Island and integrated operations inside and outside the island chain to test the joint real-life combat capabilities of the command forces.
The spokesman said the exercise would also serve as “a strong punishment for the separatist acts of the ‘Taiwan independence’ forces and a strong warning against interference and provocation by outside forces,” Xinhua reported.
The News Agency said the exercise will also take place around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin.
