China and Taiwan conduct drills: China launches mock invasion, causing concern across the region

China’s mock military drills were intended to do little more than warn the “new” Lai Ching-toku government that they were fully prepared to respond, but rather to warn the “newly formed” Lai Ching-toku government that they were fully prepared to respond to the so-called independence of Taiwan. The aim is to stop any movement, said expert Colin Coe. Senior Research Fellow at the Defense Strategic Research Institute in Singapore.

He warned of the potential for escalating tensions between the two countries, saying: “These opposing forces may actually be operating at fairly close distance. Taiwan’s military may not be able to track individual Chinese assets. “Not only will they be in direct contact with the Chinese military, but there is a risk of inadvertent or accidental military conflict.”

For the Chinese government, Lai Chingde’s speech asserting Taiwan’s sovereignty was “a declaration of war,” explained Victor Gao, a senior professor at China’s Dongzhou University. Mr. Lai “made a clear distinction between China and Taiwan and completely destroyed the one-China principle.”

“If Mr. Lai still wants to pursue the path of Taiwan independence, China can destroy Taiwan within a week or two without starting a war, which would be a fatal blow to the Taiwanese people.” I believe that cross-strait relations have reached a watershed, but if Mr. Lai dares to take the wrong step, a disaster will ensue. ”

Taiwan President Lai Ching-de said his country will continue to uphold its values ​​of freedom and democracy even in the face of challenges and threats from “the outside.”

Mr. Li made the remarks to military officers in the northern city of Taoyuan on the same day that China began military exercises around Taiwan.

Lieutenant General Steven Skrenka, deputy commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command in Canberra, said Chinese military exercises near Taiwan “are the normalisation of abnormal behaviour”.

“Just because we expect such behavior doesn’t mean we shouldn’t condemn it,” he says.

“We need to make a public condemnation and it needs to come from us, but it also needs to come from the countries in the region, it’s much stronger if it comes from the countries in the region. It’s concerning, but I believe in my heart that conflict between the two countries is not inevitable or a foregone conclusion.”

Taiwanese security officials say China has conducted a series of drills that include mock attacks on Taiwanese and foreign ships, and may launch further military exercises after the current ones near Taiwan end.

Some Chinese Coast Guard vessels near Taiwan also conducted mock boarding and inspection exercises, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation.

China’s Foreign Ministry has called on the United States to stop supporting and encouraging “Taiwan independence” forces, calling military exercises around Taiwan a “necessary and legitimate act.”

Wang Wenbin was commenting in response to media reports of US Lieutenant General Steven Skrenka saying the drills were expected but “concerning”.

China’s Taiwan encirclement drills are an attempt to shock newly elected President Lai Ching-te and independence advocates on the island, said Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Shanghai’s Fudan University.

“This is certainly a blow to the United States,” he said, adding that the exercise “is a sign that mainland China is prepared to increase deterrence against Taiwanese independence forces and strengthen its ability to shape the situation in the Taiwan Strait in response to changes within Taiwan.” He added that it is a way to show that there is.

Taiwan has reacted to the Chinese military drills by scrambling fighter jets and deploying missile, naval and land forces.

The Chinese military said the two-day drills around Taiwan were punishment for separatist forces seeking independence.

Beijing claims the island is part of Chinese territory, and the People’s Liberation Army sends warships and fighter jets to the Taiwan Strait and other areas around the island on an almost daily basis in an attempt to undermine Taiwan’s defenses and intimidate its public, who staunchly support de facto independence.

The PLA Eastern Theater Command said the land, sea and air exercises around Taiwan are aimed at testing the PLA forces’ naval and air capabilities and joint strike capabilities to attack targets and gain control of the battlefield. He said on his official Weibo account.

“This is a strong punishment for separatist forces seeking ‘independence’ and a serious warning to outside forces against interference and provocation,” the statement said.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry condemned the drills for sending troops into the region surrounding the island, and said air defenses and ground-based missile units were also tracking targets.

“The launch of these military exercises not only does not contribute to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, but also highlights (China’s) militaristic mentality,” the ministry said.

Taiwan’s Presidential Office expressed regret that China is threatening Taiwan’s democratic freedoms and regional peace and stability with “unilateral military provocations,” but the people are reassured that Taiwan can ensure security. He said he could.

The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command announced that joint military exercises involving the army, navy, air force and rocket forces began in the area around Taiwan at 7:45 a.m.

The command said in a statement that the drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, the north, south and east of Taiwan, and the surrounding areas of Taiwan-controlled Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin islands.

China has declared it will hold two days of large-scale military exercises simulating an invasion of Taiwan, a provocative move that China claims is “punishment” against Taiwan’s newly sworn-in president. .

On Thursday morning, dozens of Chinese fighter jets carrying live missiles scrambled toward Taiwan without warning, and Beijing conducted mock attacks on target areas around the island.