Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong is seen in this screenshot taken from a video titled 'Subdue Demons and Vanquish Evils,' released by the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), April 1. Reuters-Yonhap
Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong is seen in this screenshot taken from a video titled "Subdue Demons and Vanquish Evils," released by the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), April 1. Reuters-Yonhap
The People's Liberation Army launched joint exercises around Taiwan on Tuesday, marking Beijing's latest warning to the island's "separatist forces."
In a statement, Colonel Shi Yi said that the PLA's Eastern Theatre Command was conducting patrols and exercises that included simulated air and land strikes, as well as control of key passages to test the joint combat readiness of its troops.
"This is a stern warning and a strong deterrent to the separatist forces of Taiwan independence, and is a legitimate and necessary action to defend national sovereignty and safeguard national unity," Shi said.
Beijing views Taiwan as part of China to be reunited, by force if necessary. Most countries, including the U.S., do not recognize Taiwan as independent. But Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the island by force and is committed to supplying weapons for its defense.
According to Shi, army, navy, air and rocket forces have been deployed on the multi-directional naval and aerial maneuvers.
The drill is focused on combat readiness patrols, seizing comprehensive control, striking maritime and land targets, imposing blockades on key areas and routes, and aiming to test the joint operational capabilities of the theater's forces, he said.
State broadcaster CCTV announced the drills to mainland viewers on Tuesday morning and has devoted its programming to references to the exercises as well as a series of campaign materials targeting Lai.
This included a cartoon titled "Exorcizing Demons and Banishing Evil," which portrayed the PLA's actions in relation to the attacking skills of the fictional monkey king Sun Wukong from the literary classic Journey to the West.
The PLA previously held a drill last month after the Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te referred to the mainland as a "foreign hostile force."
In his strongest rhetoric yet amid rising cross-strait tensions, Lai announced 17 measures on March 13, citing threats from the mainland while referring to Beijing as a "hostile foreign force."
The measures included reinstating a military court system, establishing a "disclosure mechanism" for officials visiting the mainland and tightening residency criteria for individuals from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
Beijing defense ministry spokesman Wu Qian said last week that the PLA would maintain constant combat readiness, be prepared to fight at any time and would ensure victory.
"We will resolutely crush all 'Taiwan independence' separatist plots," he declared.
Read the full story at SCMP.