Taiwan’s Defense Ministry “strongly” condemned military exercises organized by China this Monday (10/14/2024) as “irrational and provocative”, since several branches of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) simulated a blockade of the island.
The drills, dubbed “Joint Sword-2024B,” came just days after Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s speech during which he said China had “no right to represent Taiwan” and reiterated that the two sides “ They are not subordinated” to each other.
Beijing considers Taiwan a Chinese province and has promised to “reunify” the self-governed democratic island with mainland China using force, if necessary. China reacts angrily to rhetoric or actions that suggest Taiwan is independent or sovereign.
When Lai was elected last January, Beijing called him a “dangerous separatist.” Following his inauguration speech in May, the Chinese government held a round of large-scale military exercises dubbed “Joint Sword-2024A.”
In August 2022, China held three days of large-scale live-fire military drillsafter then-Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan and met with Taiwanese leaders alongside a delegation of US Democratic Party lawmakers.
Chinese pressure, a common occurrence in Taiwan
Lev Nachman, a political scientist at National Taiwan University, told DW that Lai’s speech, however, was “very toned down” and represented a similar stance to that of his predecessor.
He added that the drills were a response to the “Republic of China National Day” speech, as Taiwan is also known, – known in Taiwan as “Double Ten Day” (because it falls on the 10th day of the 10th month, that is, October) – and a sign of Beijing’s disdain towards Lai.
Living under Chinese military threats for nearly seven decades, many Taiwanese have become accustomed to the Chinese military’s war games. Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said, in response to the drills, that The self-governed island would not “submit” to China’s military threats.
“Life goes on,” a middle-aged Taiwanese man surnamed Peng told DW. However, he added, Lai could adjust his language toward Beijing to some extent.
“Since the new president took office,” he noted, “the scale [de los ejercicios militares] has increased significantly.”
A Taiwanese woman surnamed Sung told DW that she believes Lai represents the voice of Taiwan’s majority. However, he explained that everyone should be “prepared for increased verbal and military intimidation” from China.
What was new this time?
Su Tzu-yun, an expert at the Institute of National Defense and Security Research (INDSR) in Taiwan, told DW that the large-scale participation of the China Coast Guard (CCG) during Monday’s drills marks a significant change from previous exercises.
According to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, the Coast Guard organized a formation of vessels to conduct comprehensive law enforcement patrols in the waters surrounding the Taiwanese islands.
The patrols focus on exercises such as verification and identification, boarding inspections and control and expulsion operations.
Su said this reflected China’s growing integration of its Coast Guard with the Navy as “two key pillars” of military strategy against Taiwan.
“In the scenario planned by China, If a blockade against Taiwan were to occur, the PLA Navy would likely assume the role of asserting sovereigntyshowing the Chinese claim to the area. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard would be in charge of maritime control,” he said.
China appears to be using these exercises to also test the performance of its Liaoning aircraft carrier, which Taiwan detected entering waters south of the island on Sunday afternoon.
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