China’s military has intensified its war games around Taiwan, conducting drills to test their ability to “seize power” and control key areas in response to Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te. The two days of exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan-controlled islands near the Chinese coast began just days after Lai assumed office, sparking condemnation from Taiwan.
The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command continued its drills on Friday as part of the “Joint Sword – 2024A” exercises, aimed at testing their ability to launch joint attacks and occupy strategic locations. China, which considers Taiwan its own territory, denounced Lai as a “separatist” following his inauguration speech where he called for an end to Beijing’s threats.
Despite Taiwan’s armed forces monitoring Chinese activities, the island remains relatively calm, with life carrying on as normal. Taiwan’s defense ministry released images of F-16s patrolling the skies armed with live missiles, while Chinese coast guard vessels and corvettes were also spotted in the area.
While Lai has expressed willingness to engage in talks with China, Beijing has rejected his overtures, insisting that only Taiwan’s people can determine their future. The People’s Daily, the official newspaper of China’s Communist Party, warned that actions by the “leader of the Taiwan region” would only hasten the demise of pro-independence forces in Taiwan.
Analysts and officials have noted that while the recent drills were smaller in scale compared to previous exercises, they still pose a risk of accidents or miscalculations. Beijing’s actions are seen as a warning to Taiwan that Chinese forces could swiftly intervene if necessary to assert control over the island.