China launched a large-scale, one-day military drill Monday that simulated a blockade of Taiwan. The exercise, code-named “Joint Sword – 2024B,” involved the People’s Liberation Army Navy, PLA Air Force, PLA Rocket Force and China Coast Guard. The drill was a response to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s National Day speech, in which he asserted Taiwan’s independence from China.
“The Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other,” Lai said on Thursday and “The People’s Republic of China has no right to represent Taiwan.”
During the exercise, PLA Eastern Theater Command ordered 125 sorties by aircraft, helicopters and drones near the island, the Taiwan Ministry of Defense said on Monday. Ninety of the aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. Seventeen PLA Navy ships and 17 China Coast Guard ships operated around Taiwan, with some vessels approaching the island in close proximity.
Earlier on Sunday, the MND reported that PLAN ships, including carrier CNS Liaoning (16) sailed through the Bashi Channel, which lies between the Philippines’ Mavulis Island and Taiwan’s Orchid Island, to enter the Western Pacific. In Monday’s press conference, the MND issued a graphic of PLAN and CCG activities around Taiwan which showed that the Liaoning CSG comprised of a total of four ships divided into two groups which both were located southeast of Taiwan in the Philippine Sea.
Carrier Liaoning and cruiser CNS Anshan (103) were sailing 285 miles south of Yonaguni Island carried out fighter launches and recoveries, the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force said on Monday. The release stated that JMSDF destroyer JS Kirisame (DD-104) shadowed the PLAN CSG and the Japan Air Self Defense Force scrambled fighter aircraft in response to the Liaoning’s launches of fighter aircraft.
Liaoning had earlier deployed out to the Philippine Sea on Sept. 18 before departing the area on Oct. 2, instead of heading home to its homeport of Yuchi Naval Base in Eastern China, Liaoning went to Sanya Naval Base, Hainan, and docked pier-side with carrier CNS Shandong (17), which is homeported at Sanya. Then Liaoning departed for its second deployment to the Western Pacific this year.
The People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command, which has Taiwan as part of its operational area of responsibility, issued a video on Sunday saying the Chinese military was always on high alert and ready to fight separatist forces anytime.
Senior Capt. Li Xi, spokesperson for the command, stated in the release that the drill also serves as a stern warning to the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces and that the drill is a legitimate and necessary operation for safeguarding national sovereignty and national unity.
An evening release on Monday by China’s MND said the PLA Eastern Theater Command has successfully completed Joint Sword-2024B drills, and fully tested the integrated joint operation capabilities of its troops.
“Always on high alert, troops of the theater command keep strengthening combat readiness with arduous training, and will foil the “Taiwan Independence” separatist attempts,” reads the release.
Chinese military spokesperson Snr. Col. Wu Qian said that the purpose of the drill was to fight against Taiwan independence efforts.
“We want to use language that ‘Taiwan independence’ elements can understand to let them know that there is a sword hanging over their heads and that seeking ‘independence’ is a dead end,” Wu said.
The PLA carried out the two-day Joint Sword-2024A drill in May in response to Taiwan President Lai’s inauguration speech where he called on China to cease its military and political threats to Taiwan and work with Taiwan toward peace across the Taiwan Strait.
The U.S. State Department stated that the United States is seriously concerned by the PLA drills.
“The PRC response with military provocations to a routine annual speech is unwarranted and risks escalation”, reads the statement which also called on China to act with restraint and to avoid any further actions that may undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the broader region.
In a Monday afternoon statement, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder also condemned the action on behalf of the Department of Defense.
“We have closely monitored the People’s Liberation Army exercise, JOINT SWORD 2024-B, around Taiwan. This military pressure operation is irresponsible, disproportionate, and destabilizing. As the White House noted last week, it is a long-standing tradition for Taiwan’s president to deliver remarks on 10/10,” the statement reads.
“It is a routine, domestic-focused address that has historically prompted little response from the PRC. Still, the PRC has chosen this opportunity to take provocative, military action.”
