China launches large-scale military drill around Taiwan
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The news: China has launched surprise military drills and coastguard exercises around Taiwan, as Beijing escalates its efforts to assert claims of sovereignty over the island.
The context: China’s Ministry of Defence said that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command organised the joint army, navy, air and rocket forces to close in on Taiwan Island from multiple directions on Tuesday.
Spokesperson for the command, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, said that the drills are focusing on sea-air combat-readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, assault on maritime and ground targets, and blockade of key areas and sea lanes to test the joint operation capabilities of the troops.
The China Coast Guard also said it was carrying out law-enforcement patrols around Taiwan, including inspection and capture, interception and detention operations against unwarranted vessels. The Coast Guard said “Taiwan is a province of the People’s Republic of China. These drills are concrete actions to exercise legitimate jurisdiction and control over the Island in accordance with the one-China principle.”
In a video accompanying the military drill announcement, the Eastern Theatre Command called Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te a "parasite" and depicted him as a green bug.
While the PLA holds an almost constant presence in Taiwanese airspace and surrounding waters, the drills on Tuesday appears to be a more comprehensive exercise, with 19 PLA ships active around the Island, including China’s aircraft carrier Shandong. The FT reports that Shandong was approaching waters 24 nautical miles off Taiwan’s coast, the closest it has come to the Taiwanese mainland.
The exercises come just days after US Defence Chief Pete Hegseth vowed to counter Chinese aggression in Asia-Pacific, announcing plans to strengthen the US’ military presence in Japan and request access to Japan’s strategic southwest islands in the contested East China Sea near Taiwan.
Australia has been monitoring a high-tech Chinese research vessel off the southern coast, with PM Anthony Albanese saying he “would prefer that it wasn’t there”. In February, vessels from China's navy conducted a circumnavigation of a large part of Australia, as well as hosting live fire exercises in the Tasman Sea, which included activities within Australia's exclusive economic zone.
The sources: China Ministry of Defence, China Coast Guard, Financial Times, Reuters
