China Begins Military Drills Around Taiwan as 'Punishment'
In what is described as a "strong punishment" for the island's "separatist acts", China has begun two days of military drills to surround self-ruled Taiwan today.
The drills come after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan's new president this week and made an inauguration speech that China denounced as a "confession of independence". Communist China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to bring the island under its rule, by force if necessary.
Thursday and Friday's drills will involve military aircraft and naval vessels encircling the island, aimed at "testing the joint real combat capabilities of the forces of the command," according to the Chinese military.
In response to China's announcement on Thursday morning, Taiwan swiftly mobilized its forces to "defend freedom." The Ministry of National Defence condemned these "irrational provocations and actions that undermine regional peace and stability." They announced the deployment of sea, air, and ground forces to "defend freedom, democracy, and the sovereignty of the Republic of China," using Taiwan's official name.
China had earlier warned of strong reprisals to Lai's speech, where he announced a "glorious" new era of democracy for Taiwan. Top diplomat Wang Yi also warned that Taiwanese "separatists will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history". China had previously branded Lai a "dangerous separatist" who would bring "war and decline" to the island.
China's drills will "focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets", spokesman for the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command Naval Colonel Li Xi said. They are taking place in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island and kicked off at 7:45 am, Li said.
This week's drills will also take place around the outlying islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, he added. "Ships and aircraft arrived at combat patrols near Taiwan Island... to test the actual joint combat capabilities of the theatre forces," Li said.
