Military exercises conducted in late May 2024 by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) around Taiwan are a strategic demonstration of China's capability to exert control over the island, reflecting its broader geopolitical ambitions. These maneuvers, the largest in over a year, coincide with the inauguration of Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, who is a proponent of Taiwanese sovereignty—a stance vehemently opposed by Beijing.
Beijing's rhetoric has escalated, labeling Lai a "dangerous separatist" following his inaugural speech that criticized China's increasingly aggressive posture under President Xi Jinping. The PLA's drills, which commenced with naval and aerial operations around Taiwan and its peripheral islands, are characterized as punitive measures against what Beijing perceives as secessionist actions.
The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA indicated that the exercises aim to evaluate the capacity for coordinated power seizure, joint assaults, and occupation of strategic locations. These activities underscore China's persistent claim over Taiwan as its territory, a claim unrecognized by the international community and contrary to the desires of the Taiwanese populace, who largely oppose Chinese rule.
Xi Jinping's tenure has intensified the push for reunification, framing it as an inevitable outcome. The drills involve coordinated efforts across multiple military branches, including the army, navy, air force, and rocket force, operating in the Taiwan Strait and adjacent regions. Notably, for the first time, the exercises also featured the participation of China's Coast Guard in operations near Taiwan's outlying islands.
State media broadcasts showcased the deployment of mobile artillery and missile systems, though they stopped short of displaying active combat scenarios. In response, Taiwan's Defense Ministry denounced these activities as "irrational provocations," mobilizing its own defense forces to counter the Chinese maneuvers. The ministry reported significant PLA activity, including numerous aircraft crossings of the Taiwan Strait's Median Line, a de facto boundary previously respected by both sides.
The presidential office of Taiwan expressed regret over China's unilateral military provocations, emphasizing the island's resilience and capacity to safeguard its democratic system and national security. This ongoing military posturing by China poses a substantial challenge to regional stability and underscores the broader implications of Sino-Taiwanese relations in the context of international political dynamics.
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