Beijing deployed planes and warships on Monday, October 14, to surround Taiwan, as part of military exercises presented as a “serious warning” to the authorities “separatists” of the island and that raise concern in Washington. China considers Taiwan as part of its territory to be reunified.
Beijing said on Monday it had “successfully completed” its military exercises around Taiwan, which began the same day. He added that these maneuvers had “fully tested the integrated joint operations capabilities of its troops”. “The troops (…) “They will remain on constant alert, continue to strengthen their combat readiness through intensive training, and firmly thwart all separatist attempts to achieve Taiwan independence.”said Li Xi, spokesperson for the Chinese military.
“Fighters, bombers” and other attack aircraft were deployed, as well as “several destroyers and frigates”Chinese public television CCTV said. These exercises come a few days after a speech by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, who promised on Thursday “resist annexation” Chinese from the island or “to the invasion of [sa] sovereignty ». Beijing routinely views his comments as pro-independence.
“In the face of external threats, I would like to assure my compatriots that the government will continue to defend the democratic and free constitutional system, protect a democratic Taiwan and safeguard national security.”Lai said Monday in a message posted on Facebook.
State of “heightened alert”
“Taiwan independence and peace across the Taiwan Strait [qui sépare le territoire insulaire de la Chine continentale] They are two perfectly incompatible things.warned Mao Ning, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the afternoon. “Provocations by those campaigning for Taiwan independence will inevitably be subject to retaliatory measures”he warned during a regular press conference.
The Chinese exercises, called “Joint Sword-2024B”, are taking place in areas located to the north, south and east of the island of Taiwan, explained Chinese army captain Li Xi. They “focus on sea-air combat readiness patrols, blockade of ports and key areas” or even “the assault on maritime and land objectives”he added.
Taiwan detected 125 Chinese aircraft near the island on Monday, a Defense Ministry official said, citing a “record for a single day”. The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense denounced a “irrational and provocative behavior” from Beijing, ensuring that they have “deployed adequate forces to respond appropriately to protect freedom and democracy, as well as to defend sovereignty” from Taiwan. “In the face of the enemy threat, all the country’s officers and soldiers are prepared”he added in a press release.
Without establishing a clear link to the ongoing maneuvers, the Taiwanese coast guard announced on Monday that it had detained a Chinese national after a possible “intrusion” on Kinmen, an island in the vicinity of the Chinese city of Xiamen. Taiwanese islands off the main island, such as Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, are in a state of“intensified alert”said.
Execrable relations between Beijing and Taipei
The Chinese coast guard, for its part, explained that they had hired “Police inspections in the waters surrounding the island of Taiwan”. “Various boats” It crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, in reference to the line, not recognized by Beijing, that divides the maritime space between the island and mainland China, the Taiwanese coast guard stated.
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The United States, which had warned on Friday against any “provocation” from Beijing to Taipei after bitter exchanges between the two neighbors, denounced operations “unjustified” that represent a “risk of escalation”. Since 1979, Washington has recognized Beijing, to the detriment of Taipei, as the only legitimate Chinese power, but it remains Taiwan’s most powerful ally and its main weapons supplier.
“We call on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that could further escalate cross-Strait tensions. [entre Taïwan et la Chine continentale]that must be resolved through dialogue »the spokesperson for the diplomatic service of the European Union, Nabila Massrali, declared in a statement.
China accuses the current Taiwanese authorities of wanting to deepen the cultural separation between the island and the mainland. In response, it increased its pressure on the island, in particular by strengthening its military activity throughout the territory. Beijing has staged three rounds of large-scale maneuvers in the past two years, using its air force and navy to encircle the island. On Sunday, the Taiwanese military said it was “on alert” after detecting the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning south of the island.
Relations between Beijing and Taipei have been terrible since 2016 and the rise to Taiwan’s presidency of Tsai Ing-wen, following her successor, Lai Ching-te, in 2024. Invested in May, Lai pledged on Thursday to “resist annexation” Chinese from the island or “to the invasion of [sa] sovereignty »on Taiwan’s National Day. Beijing reacted by warning that “provocations” of the Taiwanese president would lead to a “disaster” for his people.
Disputes between Beijing and Taipei date back to the long civil war that pitted communist fighters led by Mao Zedong against the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek. Defeated by the communists, who founded the People’s Republic of China on 1Ahem In October 1949, the nationalists took refuge with numerous civilians in Taiwan, one of the only parts of the national territory that had not then been conquered by Mao Zedong’s forces.
