On Monday, October 14, China launched military maneuvers with planes and ships around Taiwan, which for its part assured that it had deployed the “adequate forces” to answer it. These exercises, called “Joint Sword-2024B”, aim to “test joint operational capabilities” troops, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced Monday morning.
Operations are carried out “in areas to the north, south and east of the island of Taiwan”said Captain Li Xi, spokesman for the Chinese army’s Eastern Command. the maneuvers “focus on sea-air combat readiness patrols, blockade of ports and key areas”, “the assault on maritime and land objectives” as well as “the joint acquisition of global superiority”Li added. The Chinese coast guard announced that it had deployed four fleets to “inspections” in the waters around Taiwan. Fleets 2901, 1305, 1303 and 2102 participated in “Police inspections in the waters surrounding the island of Taiwan […] in accordance with the law based on the “one China” principle.”according to which Taiwan is part of Chinese territory, coast guard spokesman Liu Dejun said in a statement. Their Taiwanese counterparts said they had indeed detected clusters of Chinese ships around Taiwan. “Various boats” crossed the middle line of the Taiwan Strait – referring to the line that divides this 180 kilometer wide strait between the island and mainland China – and remained “in our northern, southwestern and eastern waters in the form of convoys”the Taiwan Coast Guard said in a statement.
In response to these operations, the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense condemned in a press release a “irrational and provocative behavior”specifying having “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 officers and soldiers of the country are prepared […] We are determined and confident. [d’être en mesure] to guarantee the defense of national security”continued the same source.
China views Taiwan as part of its territory that will one day be reunified and has never renounced using military force to regain control. Beijing has increased pressure on Taiwan in recent years by increasing its military activity around the island, maintaining a near-constant presence using military aircraft and ships. China has staged three rounds of large-scale maneuvers in the past two years, using its air force and navy to encircle the autonomously managed island. On Sunday, the Taiwanese military said it was “on alert” after detecting the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning to the south of the island.
Historical disputes between China and Taiwan
Relations between Beijing and Taipei have been execrable since 2016 and the arrival to the Taiwanese presidency of Tsai Ing-wen, and then of her successor Lai Ching-te in 2024. Reversed in May, the latter committed on Thursday to “resist annexation” Chinese from the island or “to the invasion of [sa] sovereignty »on the occasion of Taiwan’s National Day. He also expressed his desire to have “Dialogue and healthy and orderly exchanges” with China, calling on Beijing to use its influence to help resolve conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Beijing, which describes Mr. Lai as “separatist”reacted by warning that the “provocations” of the Taiwanese president would lead to a “disaster” for his people.
On Friday, the United States warned China against any “provocation” towards Taiwan. “The entire world has every interest in maintaining peace and stability, in preserving the status quo, in avoiding any type of conflict that could alter essential elements of the global economy”stressed the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.
On Monday, Beijing described the launch of these new exercises as “serious warning” in front of “separatist actions of the “Taiwan independence” forces”. “This is a legitimate and necessary operation to safeguard the sovereignty of the State and national unity”Captain Li Xi estimated. The official Chinese television channel CCTV broadcast a video titled: “The greater the provocation, the tighter the reins will be. »
Beijing has long tried to block contacts between Taipei and its international partners to isolate it, preventing it from participating in global forums and putting pressure on its few official supporters. Washington has recognized Beijing, to the detriment of Taipei, as a legitimate power since 1979, but it remains Taiwan’s most powerful ally and its main weapons supplier.
Disputes between Beijing and Taipei date back to the long and deadly civil war that pitted communist fighters led by Mao Tse-tung against the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek. Defeated by the communists, who founded the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949, the nationalists of the Republic of China took refuge with numerous civilians in Taiwan, one of the only parts of the national territory not then conquered by Mao’s forces. Tse-tung.
