PLA Conducts Large-Scale Military Exercises Around Taiwan, Reinforcing Sovereignty Claims

On Tuesday, the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army initiated comprehensive military exercises encompassing land, sea, air, and rocket forces around Taiwan. The operation is framed by officials as a necessary measure to defend China's national sovereignty and promote unity, continuing a pattern of increased military activity in the vicinity of the island.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, the spokesperson for the command, noted that forces were strategically deployed from various directions. The focus of these drills is to enhance combat readiness through a series of tactical exercises that include air-sea patrol operations, establishing battlefield dominance, and executing strikes against both sea and land targets. This round of exercises aims to evaluate the joint operational capabilities of the military in realistic scenarios.

Meng Xiangqing, a professor at the PLA National Defense University, asserted that the military drills send a definitive message of deterrence to those advocating for Taiwan's independence. He emphasized that the operations are lawful and aim to ensure comprehensive control over air, sea, land, and information domains.

Notably, since 2022, the PLA has conducted multiple large-scale exercises around Taiwan, which have increasingly drawn closer to the island itself. Scholar Zhang Chi remarked that this trend indicates the PLA's deepening familiarity with the operational environment in the Taiwan Strait, suggesting that these exercises have become a routine aspect of the PLA's strategy.

Additionally, the China Coast Guard announced they have dispatched vessels to patrol waters surrounding Taiwan, reinforcing their claim of jurisdiction in line with the one-China principle. The Coast Guard's actions include law enforcement operations against unauthorized vessels in the area.

Fu Zhengnan from the PLA Academy of Military Sciences highlighted that these synchronized Coast Guard and PLA exercises contribute to a new norm of managing Taiwan under the one-China principle, asserting that military options against pro-independence advocates are diversifying. He warned that any pursuits of "Taiwan independence" will lead to confrontation and emphasized the PLA's unwavering commitment to national reunification.

In response to what it describes as provocations from Taiwan's authorities, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council issued statements condemning separatist efforts led by Lai Ching-te. Spokesperson Zhu Fenglian accused Lai of inciting anti-China sentiment and disrupting peace, asserting that any form of independence from China would only lead to military conflict.

At a regular news briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun reiterated that Taiwan is a vital part of China's territory, declaring that external interference is unacceptable. He condemned the Democratic Progressive Party's stance on independence, declaring the historical momentum toward China's reunification is unstoppable.