The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) initiated ‘Joint Sword-2024B’ military exercises near Taiwan, as per a statement released by the country’s Defense Ministry. According to Senior Captain Li Xi, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, on October 14, troops from the army, navy, air force, and rocket force were deployed in the Taiwan Strait and areas around Taiwan Island to conduct joint military drills under the code name ‘Joint Sword-2024B. The exercises focus on subjects such as sea-air combat-readiness patrols, blockades on key ports and areas, assaults on maritime and ground targets, and joint seizure of comprehensive superiority. These drills are aimed at testing the joint operations capabilities of the theater command’s troops.
Senior Captain Li Xi further emphasized that these military exercises serve as a stern warning to the separatist actions of ‘Taiwan Independence’ forces, highlighting their legitimacy and necessity in protecting national sovereignty and unity. In response to recent developments surrounding Taiwan, Lai Qingde, the head of the Taiwan administration, stated on October 10 that Taipei’s efforts to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait remain unchanged, with the island prepared to defend its “state sovereignty.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning responded by stating that “Taiwan has never been a country and will never become one; it has no kind of sovereignty at all.” On May 20, Taiwan held an inauguration ceremony for the island’s new leader, Lai Ching-te. Three days later, the PLA Eastern Theater Command announced the commencement of the Joint Sword 2024A exercise around Taiwan and near the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin. The exercise involved land, missile, naval, and air forces.
Taiwan has been governed by its administration since 1949 when the remnants of the Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek fled there after their defeat in the Chinese Civil War. Since then, the island has retained the flag and some other attributes of the former Republic of China that existed on the mainland before the Communists came to power. Beijing officially considers Taiwan a province of the People’s Republic of China.