(PatriotSpotlight.org) – China is gearing up its military actions close to Taiwan, carrying out numerous drills in the wake of the inauguration of Taiwan’s new anti-CCP president, Lai Ching-te.
Chinese state media directly referred to its exercises as “punishment” from last Thursday, including joint naval and air operations. Under the “One China” policy Beijing continues to claim Taiwan as a breakaway element of its territory which it has a right to reunify with, even by military force.
Lai Ching-te, a member of Taiwan’s pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, took office on Monday, May 20th following its victory in January’s election.
On Wednesday one Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman told the press that “Those like Lai Ching-te” were traitors to “their nation and ancestors”. He also slammed them as “disgraceful.” The remarks reiterated Beijing’s firm opinion on the controversial matter, doubling down on China’s warnings that any fresh pro-independence actions could prompt severe and violent consequences.
The PLA’s Eastern Theater Command said its drills, which were carried out until last Friday, May 25th, included practice precision strikes aimed at key targets, to gear up its forces’ combat capabilities. Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense has admitted that a total of 42 Chinese fighter jets, alongside 16 coast guard vessels, and 15 naval vessels were present near Taiwan and its outlying islands last Thursday. They said that no Chinese forces violated Taiwanese airspace or waters.
Writing to the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense said it sought no conflicts, but that it would not “shy” away from one if it needed to defend itself.
This latest provocation comes in the wake of other previous large-scale Chinese military exercises, including those taken as a reaction to official U.S. visits to the island, such as when then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Taiwan during both August 2022 and April 2023 subsequent to talks between then-Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
The U.S.’ “strategic ambiguity” policy means there is officially no stance in Washington as to whether it would militarily intervene to defend Taiwan’s sovereignty if China were to launch an invasion. It is thought that this uncertainty helps foster a climate of deterrence, helping to circumvent an escalation on the part of China. However, despite this key policy, President Joe Biden has publicly stated on numerous occasions that the U.S. would defend Taiwan.
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