China’s Maritime Safety Administration on Monday designated two further zones within which live-firing would take place.
China carried out a second day of joint live-fire drills around Taiwan on Tuesday, deploying air, naval and missile units in exercises it said were a “stern warning” to separatist forces and “external interference,” according to reports from Reuters. Taiwan said its forces were on alert and accused Beijing of being “the biggest destroyer of peace.”
‘WARNING AGAINST SEPARATIST FORCES’
China’s People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command said the drills were taking place in the Taiwan Strait and in areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of the island.
Spokesperson Senior Col. Shi Yi said the exercises focused on combat patrols, port blockades and what he called the “joint seizure of comprehensive superiority.” He said the actions were “a legitimate and necessary step to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity.”
‘BIGGEST DESTROYER OF PEACE’
Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said its forces were conducting rapid-response measures and remained on high alert.
“The Chinese Communist Party’s targeted military exercises further confirm its nature as an aggressor and the biggest destroyer of peace,” the ministry said in a statement carried by AP.
‘EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE WILL BE DOOMED’
China’s Foreign Ministry accused Taiwan’s ruling party of seeking independence through US support. Xinhua quoted a government spokesperson as saying that any such efforts would be “doomed.”
Defence Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang said, “We urge relevant countries to abandon the illusion of using Taiwan to contain China.”
Reuters reported that the Eastern Theatre Command said the exercises would run until 6 p.m. across five areas surrounding Taiwan. China’s Maritime Safety Administration also announced additional live-fire zones, making the “Justice Mission 2025” drills the largest so far by total coverage.
The drills began days after the US. announced a record arms package for Taiwan. Analysts told Reuters the exercises were intended to rehearse cutting Taiwan’s access to outside support in a conflict.
China said it had deployed destroyers, bombers and other units to carry out training in sea assaults, air defence and anti-submarine operations to “test sea and air forces’ ability to coordinate for integrated containment and control,” Reuters reported. Taiwan said it rejects China’s sovereignty claim and maintains that only its people can decide the island’s future.
CHINA EYES 2027 READINESS TARGET
The Chinese military said it had deployed destroyers, bombers and other units to drill sea-based assaults, air defence and anti-submarine operations on Tuesday. The drills would “test sea and air forces’ ability to coordinate for integrated containment and control.”
The Eastern Theatre Command said on Monday that simulating a blockade of Taiwan’s vital deep-water Port of Keelung to the island’s north and Kaohsiung to Taiwan’s south, its largest port city, was central to the drills.
Reuters reported last week that a draft Pentagon report says “China expects to be able to fight and win a war on Taiwan by the end of 2027,” the centenary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army, a key symbolic milestone in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s modernisation drive.
But Xi’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign within the military has raised questions about its readiness. The Chinese leader expelled eight generals from the PLA for graft in October and reports show revenue at China’s defence firms fell 10% last year despite three decades of rising military budgets.
Still, Beijing was contemplating carrying out strikes 1,500-2,000 nautical miles from China to take Taiwan by “brute force” if needed, the Pentagon report said.
