China begins military exercises around Taiwan amid rising tension

China began military exercises around Taiwan on Monday, with planes and ships circling the self-ruled island, according to Beijing’s defense ministry, Channel News Asia (CNA) reported.

The exercises, part of China’s ongoing show of force, mark the fourth round of large-scale military operations in the past two years.

The exercise, named Joint Sword-2024B, is designed to “test the joint operational capabilities of troops of theater commands”, the ministry said.

According to Captain Li Shi, spokesman for the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command, the drills are taking place in “areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan island”, CNA reported.

Li explained that the exercises focused on several areas, including “sea-air combat-readiness patrols, blockade of major ports and areas” and “attacking maritime and land targets.” The exercise also included “joint seizure of extensive superiority”.

China’s military presence around Taiwan has increased significantly in recent years, with frequent overflights and naval maneuvers taking place around the island’s waters.

Beijing has not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control.

In the wake of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s speech during the island’s National Day celebrations last week, both the US and Taiwan urged China to stop any aggressive actions. Lai, who has taken a tougher stance on protecting Taiwan’s sovereignty than his/her predecessor Tsai Ing-wen, has angered the Chinese government, which labels him/her a “separatist”, CNA reported.

In his/her speech, Lai stressed Taiwan’s resistance to any attempt to annex it, saying that “Beijing and Taipei were not ‘subservient to each other’.”

In response, Beijing called the drills a “strong warning to the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces” and affirmed that the drills were “a legitimate and necessary operation to safeguard state sovereignty and national unity.”

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te also expressed his/her desire for “healthy and orderly dialogue and exchanges” with China. he/she urged Beijing to play a constructive role in ending the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Despite Taiwan’s strong governance and military, it has never formally declared independence from China, which continues to insist on Taiwan’s exclusion from international forums and diplomatic recognition.