China conducts large-scale military drills around Taiwan Strait

Asia-Pacific, News August 20, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) launched a large-scale military drill around the island of Taiwan that involves several of its frigates, destroyers, fighter jets, and planes. The exercise that started on August 19, 2023, coincides with some key events including a visit from Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai to the United States.

PLA spokesperson said that the exercise is aimed at increasing operational cooperation between military vessels and warplanes. “The patrols and exercises are meant to train the coordination of military vessels and airplanes and their ability to seize control of air and sea spaces,” a spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command Shi Yi told the media. He added that the exercise would test the Chinese military’s “ability to fight in real combat conditions.”

Taiwan’s defense ministry said that the exercise involved at least 42 Chinese aircraft and eight ships were detected around the island. The ministry also said that 26 Chinese planes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which is considered an unofficial border between mainland China and Taiwan.

In response to the drills and crossing of the median line, Taiwan’s military dispatched fighter aircraft and naval ships while activating its land-based missile systems, closely tracking the situation, according to the ministry.

Taipei strongly condemned PLA’s military drills in close proximity to the self-governing island saying that it does not “help peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.” Taiwanese administration also said that the drills showcase China’s “militaristic mentality.”

China launches missile during military drill — *^{A missile is launched during a Chinese military drill on August 4, 2022. (Image Credit: CFP/via CGTN)}*

Warning for Taiwan’s Independence

Taiwanese officials were expecting a military drill around Taiwan Strait following the recent events including the visit of Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai to the United States, where he stopped on his way to Paraguay.

A statement by the spokesperson of the Chinese military added that “the patrols and exercises serve as a stern warning to the collusion of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists with foreign elements and their provocations.”

China’s foreign ministry issued a statement to coincide with Lai’s visit to the U.S., saying it was opposed to any form of a visit by “Taiwan independence separatists” to the U.S. “Lai stubbornly adheres to the separatist position of Taiwan independence and is a troublemaker through and through,” the ministry said. William Lai is the most likely candidate to become Taiwan’s president in the next elections that are set to be held in January next year.

Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu called China’s military drills as an attempt to influence the upcoming elections in the self-governed island. He said that it was up to Taiwan’s citizens to decide on their upcoming elections, “not the bully next door.” “China should hold its own elections; I’m sure its people would be thrilled,” he wrote on Twitter.

*^{Chinese Navy ships conducting military drills near Taiwan. (Image Credit: China Military)}*

The exercise also comes shortly after the leaders of the U.S., Japan, and South Korea wrapped up a trilateral meeting in the U.S. focused on finding ways to deter China and its military activities in the Indo-Pacific region.

The three leaders declared that the meeting is a start of a “new era of trilateral partnership” as they announced a series of measures aimed at bolstering trilateral partnership. A joint statement said that the three countries would work close on countering “the dangerous and aggressive behavior supporting unlawful maritime claims” of China in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.