NEW DELHI: The Chinese military started a two-day joint military exercise, ‘Joint Sword-2024A’, around Taiwan in the early hours of Thursday morning, as reported by Chinese state media outlets.
People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command commenced the drills at 7:45 am (2345 GMT) around various locations, including the Taiwan Strait and the areas to the north, south, and east of Taiwan, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Additionally, the military drills are being conducted in the vicinity of several islands, namely Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin.
These exercises commenced, just three days after Lai Ching-te assumed office as the new president of the self-governed island.
Meanwhile, China has labeled Lai a “dangerous separatist” who will bring “war and decline” to the island.
According to military spokesman Li Xi, as reported by Xinhua, the drills will “focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets”.
Li further stated that the exercises will involve “the patrol of vessels and planes closing in on areas around the island of Taiwan and integrated operations inside and outside the island chain to test the joint real combat capabilities of the forces of the command”.
The spokesperson emphasized that the drills serve as a “strong punishment for the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan independence’ forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces”, as reported by Xinhua.
People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command commenced the drills at 7:45 am (2345 GMT) around various locations, including the Taiwan Strait and the areas to the north, south, and east of Taiwan, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Additionally, the military drills are being conducted in the vicinity of several islands, namely Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin.
These exercises commenced, just three days after Lai Ching-te assumed office as the new president of the self-governed island.
Meanwhile, China has labeled Lai a “dangerous separatist” who will bring “war and decline” to the island.
According to military spokesman Li Xi, as reported by Xinhua, the drills will “focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets”.
Li further stated that the exercises will involve “the patrol of vessels and planes closing in on areas around the island of Taiwan and integrated operations inside and outside the island chain to test the joint real combat capabilities of the forces of the command”.
The spokesperson emphasized that the drills serve as a “strong punishment for the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan independence’ forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces”, as reported by Xinhua.
