China threatens Taiwan with fighter jets and warships

As a renewed threat to Taiwan, China is holding a large-scale military exercise around the island republic. The Chinese military spoke in a statement of a “serious warning” to the “separatist” forces in Taiwan. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV released a map showing several large red blocks around Taiwan. The exercises therefore take place in these areas.

The exercise called “Joint Sword-2024B” is about testing “joint operational capabilities,” said the Ministry of Defense in Beijing. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported that “fighter jets, bombers and other modern fighter aircraft” were flying over the Taiwan Strait. At the same time, several destroyers and frigates took part in the maneuver.

The action was probably triggered by a speech by Taiwanese President Lais on his country’s national holiday on October 10th. A few days ago, he reaffirmed Taiwan’s sovereignty, but also called on China to work with it for peace.

Relationship between Taiwan and China strained

China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory, even though independent and democratically elected governments have been in power there for decades. Beijing has long been openly threatening to unite the island, which has a population of more than 23 million, and the mainland, using military force if necessary.

The pressure recently increased again after Lai Ching-Te, another China critic, won the presidential election in Taiwan in January. The Communist Party in Beijing accuses Lai and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of separatism.

A few days ago there were warnings in Taiwan that China could use the speech as an opportunity to flex its military muscles again. It is China’s fourth large-scale military exercise around Taiwan in two years. At the same time, the Chinese coast guard sent four fleets for “inspections”.

Taiwan arrests Chinese in dinghy

According to a Chinese military spokesman, ships and aircraft are believed to have approached Taiwan from several directions. The aim is, among other things, to practice blocking important ports and areas and to achieve “comprehensive control”. The Chinese coast guard also said it would carry out inspections in the waters around Taiwan.

Taiwan’s defense ministry called the Chinese exercise an “irrational provocation” and said it had sent its own armed forces to “take concrete measures to uphold freedom and democracy.” A Chinese man was arrested on a small island off the coast of China. It is “not excluded” that the incident represents an “intrusion into the gray zone,” the coast guard said. The authority used a formulation that describes enemy maneuvers that cannot be considered a direct act of war.

The arrested man arrived illegally in a rubber dinghy to Menghu, a small island that is part of the Kinmen Islands administered by Taiwan and is located just a few kilometers off the Chinese port city of Xiamen. Pictures released by the Taiwan Coast Guard showed the man being taken onto a ship. The suspect and his boat were taken to Kinmen, the coast guard said. The coast guard has “increased its vigilance.” Critical locations would be constantly monitored and targets at sea observed in “real time.”

USA fears escalation in the Pacific

The State Department in Washington is seriously concerned about the exercises. Reacting to an annual speech with military provocations is not justified and carries the risk of escalation, it said in a statement. The US government called on China to restrain itself and avoid further actions that could undermine peace and stability.

The USA follows the one-China doctrine, which is a prerequisite for diplomatic relations with China and does not allow official contacts with Taiwan. However, the United States is legally committed to supporting the island republic’s defense capability and is an important ally.