Beijing launches military maneuvers around Taiwan, which says it has deployed “adequate forces”

China has launched military maneuvers with planes and ships around Taiwan on Monday, which assured for its part that it had deployed the “adequate forces” to respond.

These exercises, dubbed Joint Sword-2024B, aim to “test “joint operational capabilities” of the troops, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced Monday morning.

The operations are taking place “in areas north, south and east of the island of Taiwan,” said Captain Li Xi, spokesman for the Chinese army's Eastern Command.

The maneuvers “focus on sea-air combat readiness patrols, blockade of ports and key areas,” “assaulting sea and land targets” as well as “jointly acquiring overall superiority,” Li added.

The Taiwanese Defense Ministry condemned in a statement “irrational and provocative behavior,” assuring that it had “deployed adequate forces to respond appropriately in order to protect freedom and democracy, as well as to defend the sovereignty” of Taiwan.

“In the face of the enemy threat, all officers and soldiers in the country are ready (…) We are determined and confident (to be able) to ensure the defense of national security,” the same source continued.

Map of Taiwan and China showing in particular the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial demarcation between China and Taiwan that Beijing does not recognize © AFP – Jean-Michel CORNU, Patricio ARANA

China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory to be reunified one day and has never renounced the use of military force to regain control of it.

It has increased pressure on Taiwan in recent years by strengthening its military activity around the island, maintaining a near-constant presence using military aircraft and ships.

Beijing has organized three series of large-scale maneuvers in the last two years, using its air force and navy to encircle the island, which is managed in a autonomous.

On Sunday, the Taiwanese army said it was “on alert” after detecting the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning south of the island.

– “Separatist” –

Relations between Beijing and Taipei have been dire since 2016 and the arrival of Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwanese president, then her successor Lai Ching-te in 2024.

Inaugurated in May, Mr. Lai had pledged on Thursday to “resist Chinese annexation” of the island or “the encroachment of (his) sovereignty”, on the occasion of Taiwan's national holiday.

He had also expressed his wish to have “healthy and orderly dialogue and exchanges” with China, calling on Beijing to use its influence instead to help resolve conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te delivers a speech on the occasion of the national day, on October 10, 2024 in Taipei © AFP – WALID BERRAZEG

Beijing, which calls Mr. Lai a “separatist”, had reacted by warning that the “provocations” of the Taiwanese president would bring a “disaster” to his people.

On Friday, the United States had warned China against any “provocation” against Taiwan.

“The whole world has a vested interest in maintaining peace and stability, preserving the status quo, avoiding any type of conflict that could disrupt essential elements of the global economy,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had stressed.

On Monday, Beijing described the launch of these new exercises as a “serious warning” in the face of “separatist actions by the forces of 'Taiwan independence'.”

“This is a legitimate and necessary operation to safeguard state sovereignty and national unity,” said Captain Li Xi.

Chinese official television channel CCTV broadcast a video titled: “The greater the provocation, the tighter the reins will be.”

Beijing has long tried to block contacts between Taipei and its international partners in order to isolate it, preventing it from participating in global forums and putting pressure on its few official supporters.

Washington has recognized Beijing to the detriment of Taipei as a legitimate power since 1979, but remains Taiwan's most powerful ally and its main arms supplier.

The disputes between Beijing and Taipei date back to the long and bloody civil war that pitted the communist fighters led by Mao Zedong against the nationalist forces of Chiang Kai-shek.

Defeated by the communists, who founded the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949, the nationalists of the Republic of China took refuge with many civilians in Taiwan, one of the only parts of the national territory then not conquered by the Mao Zedong's forces.

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