China Launches Military Drills Near Taiwan, Escalating Tensions Over Independence Rhetoric
By Yangchen Lhamu
DHARAMSALA, Oct 14: China has launched “Joint Sword-2024B” drills near Taiwan, warning against “separatist acts” by Taiwan independence forces. This move, ChinaPerspective reported, is China’s response to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s speech, which Beijing condemned for stating China has no right to represent Taiwan. The drills, conducted in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas, simulate sea-air combat, blockades, and missile launches, drawing condemnation from Taiwan and the US.
According to PhoenixTV News, the military drills around Taiwan enforce China’s control over Taiwan, upholding the “one-China” principle. The drills demonstrate China’s determination to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity amid tensions over Taiwan’s independence.
Taiwan’s Defence Ministry has opted not to escalate tensions with China despite Beijing’s recent military exercises but has condemned the actions, stating they compromise security in the Taiwan Strait.
The ministry has heightened its alert on outlying islands and is closely monitoring China’s rocket forces. This development comes amidst rising tensions, with China viewing Taiwan as a breakaway province and consistently warning that independence is a “dead end.”
“China’s irrational and provocative military exercises jeopardise the security situation in the Taiwan Strait and are not conducive to the healthy development of cross-strait relations,” the ministry said in a statement as reported by Livemint.
“This is a major warning to those backing Taiwan independence,” Captain Li Xi, spokesperson for China’s East Theater Command has said in the report. “It signifies our unwavering determination to safeguard national sovereignty.”
In a recent interview on 60 Minutes Overtime, when Kamala Harris was asked, “If China attacks Taiwan, would we use military force to support Taiwan?” she replied, “I’m not going to get into hypotheticals. But we need to make sure that we maintain a One China policy that includes supporting Taiwan’s ability to defend itself, including what we need to do to ensure the freedom of the Taiwan Strait. We need to make sure we have open lines of communication with China, in particular military to military.”
The historical tension between Taiwan and China dates back to 1949 when the Nationalist government, led by Chiang Kai-shek, retreated to Taiwan after losing to Mao Zedong’s Communists on the mainland. Taiwan operates as a self-governed democracy but has never officially declared independence.