China begins new round of war games near Taiwan, with no end date

A miniature Navy is seen in front of the flags of China and Taiwan displayed in this illustration taken on April 11, 2023. Reuters-Yonhap

China’s military began a new round of war games near Taiwan on Monday, saying it was a warning of “separatist acts by Taiwan independence forces” and offering no date for when they might be concluded, drawing the condemnation of the Taipei government.

Democratically-ruled Taiwan, which China views as its own territory, has been on alert for more war games since President Lai Ching-te’s National Day speech last week, a speech Beijing condemned after Lai said China had no right to represent Taiwan even when it offered to cooperate with Beijing.

The Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command said the “Joint Sword-2024B” exercises were taking place in the Taiwan Strait and in areas north, south and east of Taiwan.

“The exercise also serves as a stern warning to the separatist acts of the Taiwan independence forces. It is a legitimate and necessary operation to safeguard state sovereignty and national unity,” it said in a statement released in both Chinese and English.

The command published a map showing nine areas around Taiwan where exercises were taking place — two on the island’s east coast, three on the west coast, one in the north and three around Taiwan-controlled islands near the Chinese coast.

Chinese ships and aircraft are approaching Taiwan “in close proximity from different directions,” focusing on air-sea combat readiness patrols, blockading key ports and areas, attacking sea and land targets, and “jointly seizing comprehensive superiority,” said the command.

However, it did not announce any live fire exercises or any no-fly areas. In 2022, shortly after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, China fired missiles at the island.

The Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council for China policy said China’s latest war games and refusal to renounce the use of force were “blatant provocations” that seriously undermined regional peace and stability.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te waves to the crowd on national day to mark the 113th anniversary of the Republic of China, Taiwan’s formal name, in Taipei, Taiwan, October 10. Reuters-Yonhap

In the face of new political, military and economic threats posed by China to Taiwan in recent days, Taiwan will not back down, the Taiwan Mainland Affairs Council, which formulates China policy, said in a statement.

“President Lai has already expressed his goodwill in his National Day speech and is willing to take on the responsibility of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait together with the Chinese communists,” he added.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said it had sent its own forces.

Lai’s speech on the national day highlighted the current state of cross-strait relations and the firm will to safeguard peace and stability and advocated future cooperation to deal with challenges such as climate change, the ministry added.

“The Chinese communist’s claim of ‘picking fights and stirring up trouble’ is a complete deviation from the truth,” he added.

A senior Taiwanese security official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation, said he believed China was blockading Taiwanese ports north and south of the island and international shipping routes, as well as repelling arrival of foreign forces. .

Taiwan on Sunday reported a group of Chinese aircraft carriers sailing south of the island through the strategic Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines and connects the South China Sea to the Pacific.

Chinese state media since Thursday has published a series of stories and comments denouncing Lai’s speech, and on Sunday the Eastern Theater Command released a video saying it was “prepared for battle.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the war games. The US said last week that China was not justified in using Lai’s National Day speech as a pretext for military pressure.

China held the “Joint Sword-2024A” exercises over two days around Taiwan in May shortly after Lai’s inauguration, saying they were a “punishment” for the separatist content in his inauguration speech.

Lai has repeatedly offered negotiations with China but has been rejected. He says only the people of Taiwan can decide their future and rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims. (Reuters)