CNN
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Tensions are rising again in the Taiwan Strait, with China launching a two-day military drill surrounding Taiwan just days after a new leader whom Beijing has long loathed was sworn in on the island.
The drills began early on Thursday with China describing them as “punishment” for “acts of separatism” and an allusion to the election and inauguration of Taiwan’s new self-ruled government president, Lai Ching-te.
China’s military has said the exercise was designed to test its ability to “seize power” over Taiwan.
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Relations between the two countries have been steadily deteriorating in recent years, but the latest escalation poses a major test for Taiwan’s ruling party, which has championed democracy amid growing threats from its authoritarian neighbor.
The Chinese Communist Party claims Taiwan as part of its territory despite never having effectively controlled it, has vowed to seize it by force if necessary, and has become more belligerent under President Xi Jinping.
Here’s what you need to know:
The People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command announced early Thursday that a joint military exercise involving the army, navy, air force and rocket force had begun in the area around Taiwan.
The exercises are taking place in the Taiwan Strait – the narrow stretch of water that separates Taiwan from mainland China – and to the north, south and east of Taiwan.
The command said in a statement that such activities have also been taking place around Taiwan’s remote islands off China’s southeast coast – Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.
Daniel Chen/AP
Soldiers raise the Taiwanese flag and pose for a group photo after an intensified readiness drill simulating defense against a military invasion from Beijing, in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on January 11, 2023.
Command spokesman Capt. Li Xi called the drills “a severe punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and a serious warning against interference and provocation by external forces.”
Thursday’s drills saw dozens of Chinese fighter jets carrying live ammunition carry out mock attacks on “key military targets” of the “enemy” alongside destroyers, frigates and missile speed boats, state television (CCTV) said.
The Eastern Theater Command said Friday it was continuing drills to “test our ability to jointly seize power, launch joint attacks and occupy key areas” on both sides of the Taiwan island. CCTV aired footage of PLA soldiers deploying mobile artillery and missile systems, but did not show any live firing.
China’s military drills are not just intended to signal its intentions to the international community, but also to appeal to a domestic audience. China’s state media gave the exercises extensive coverage and the military posted footage on social media, after which it went viral on China’s tightly regulated internet.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it had sent naval, air and land forces to respond to the Chinese drills, and expressed despair over “such unreasonable provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability.”
Taiwan is also closely monitoring Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels that approach the island, with the ministry recording 49 Chinese aircraft, 19 warships and seven coast guard vessels between 6 a.m. Thursday and 6 a.m. Friday.
In a statement, Taiwan’s Presidential Office said it had the “confidence and ability to safeguard national security” and accused China of “using unilateral military provocations to threaten Taiwan’s democracy and freedom.”
But despite Beijing’s massive military display, life continues as usual in Taiwan, and although Chinese military threats have become more regular and visible in recent years, the island’s 23 million residents have become accustomed to them.
“We are not afraid of the Chinese Communist Party and we are confident,” an 88-year-old retiree who gave his surname Liu told CNN.
“Even if the Chinese Communist Party attacks Taiwan, it will not be easy to seize Taiwan. The Taiwanese people are not afraid of war.”
The most obvious answer is Lai’s inauguration on Monday.
Now in a historic third term, Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regards Taiwan as a de facto sovereign nation with a distinct Taiwanese identity.
Ahead of Taiwan’s elections in January, Beijing had warned that Lai’s victory could increase tensions and spark conflict, repeatedly calling the election a choice between “peace or war”.
Taiwanese voters ignored these warnings and returned the Democratic Progressive Party to power, although two opposition parties that support closer ties with China now hold majorities in parliament.
The Chinese government and state media have regularly denounced Lai, calling him a dangerous separatist, a “troublemaker” and a “warmonger,” and have rejected repeated offers to meet.
03:10 – Source: CNN
Listen to the message sent by Taiwan’s new president to Beijing at his inauguration
Their intense dislike of Lai is rooted in his political past and Beijing’s refusal to negotiate directly with most of Taiwan’s leaders.
Li Keqiang, 64, a former doctor and veteran political scientist, was once an outspoken supporter of Taiwan independence, something Beijing would never tolerate.
His views have softened over the years and he now supports maintaining the status quo, saying he has “no plans or need to declare independence” as the island is “already an independent sovereign nation.”
But Beijing never let those early remarks slide and made its position clear during Thursday’s exercises.
In his inaugural address on Monday, Lai also declared that “a glorious era for Taiwanese democracy has arrived,” reiterating his determination to safeguard Taiwan’s sovereignty and setting the tone for the new administration’s stance toward China.
He also called on Beijing to stop “intimidating” Taiwan and to respect the will of the Taiwanese people to determine their own destiny.
What about relations between China and Taiwan?
The Chinese Civil War ended with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) taking power in mainland China and the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in Beijing in 1949.
The defeated Kuomintang fled to Taiwan and moved the seat of the Republic of China government from mainland China to Taipei.
Both countries claimed to be the sole legitimate government of all of China.
In recent years, Taiwan has toned down its territorial claims to mainland China and is now a vibrant democracy with its own military, currency, constitution and elected government.
However, it is not recognised as an independent country by most governments around the world. For decades, China has become increasingly isolated, with many governments switching diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, but China’s military assertiveness has led to the strengthening of informal diplomatic ties with many Western countries in recent years.
Meanwhile, under Xi Jinping, China has become increasingly assertive in foreign policy and more authoritarian at home.
China has cut off official communications with Taiwan since the Democratic Progressive Party came to power in 2016 and has stepped up economic, military and diplomatic pressure on the island.
At the same time, Taipei’s relationship with Washington grew stronger under Lai’s popular predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, with increased arms sales and higher-level political involvement, infuriating Beijing, which stepped up pressure on Taiwan and worsened cross-strait relations in a vicious cycle.
What is the US position on this matter?
The United States formally switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but has long walked a delicate middle ground.
In what is known as the “One China” policy, Washington recognises the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China. It also recognises Beijing’s position that Taiwan is part of China, but has never accepted the Chinese Communist Party’s claims of sovereignty over the island.
The United States maintains close informal ties with Taiwan that have strengthened in recent years. The United States is obligated by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and has also supplied it with defensive weapons.
U.S. lawmakers regularly visit Taiwan and are supporting legislation to strengthen U.S. support for Taiwan and its defense forces.
But historically, the United States has remained deliberately vague about whether it would defend Taiwan if China invaded it, a policy known as “strategic ambiguity.”
After the January election, the United States sent a bipartisan delegation to Taiwan, where they met with Lai and Tsai and pledged continued U.S. support for Taiwan regardless of who wins the next U.S. election.
China also announced sanctions on Tuesday against Mike Gallagher, the former US congressman who led the delegation, saying his “statements and actions” amounted to “interference” in China’s internal affairs.
