BEIJING. – China started on Monday the largest military exercise ever held around Taiwanaimed at demonstrating Beijing’s ability to isolate the island from any external support in a potential conflict and testing Taipei’s resolve to defend itself and the effectiveness of its arsenal of US-made weapons.
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command said it was in action Troops, warships, fighter planes and artillery as part of the exercises “Mission Justice 2025”which is supposed to encircle the democratically governed island real fire And simulated attacks against land and sea targets as well as maneuvers to blockade Taiwan’s most important ports.
Live-fire exercises will continue in a record seven areas on Tuesday by the China Maritime Safety Administration, making these maneuvers those of largest reach to date, both for the total area covered and for development in areas closer to Taiwan than in previous years. The army had originally indicated that artillery fire would be limited to five areas.
The command has reported that it is in use Destroyers, frigates, fighters, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles in coordination with long-range missile launches to conduct maritime and airspace exercises in the core areas of the Taiwan Strait, with an emphasis on attacking moving targets on land. According to the military, the goal is to test soldiers’ ability to carry out precision strikes on key targets.
The exercises were announced after Beijing expressed its displeasure over them Washington arms sales to the territory and by a statement from the Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichiabout what his army could interfere if China took action against it the island Autonomy that the Chinese government wants to have under its control.
Taiwan’s defense ministry also reported that an additional area was available for a two-hour exercise on Monday morning. which was carried out without prior notice from China in the eastern waters of the island.
For its part, the Ministry of Transport has pointed this out more than 100,000 passengers of international scheduled flights will be affected by Tuesday’s maneuvers around 80 domestic flights is cancelled.
That’s that sixth major round of military maneuvers from China from 2022following the visit of the then Speaker of the United States House of Representatives to the democratically ruled island, Nancy Pelosiand occurs in a context with more forceful rhetoric in response to Takaichi’s comments to promote Beijing’s territorial claims.
Taiwan rejects and asserts sovereignty claimed by China Only the population can decide the future of the island.
“Our armed forces operate on the principle of preparing for the worst case scenario and they have to take into account all possible hypotheses,” he told the press. Hsieh Jih-shengDeputy Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for Intelligence at the Taiwanese Defense Ministry when asked about the maneuvers.
“Conducting live fire exercises around the Taiwan Strait (…) would not only constitute military pressure on us, but could also pose a danger.” more complex challenges and impacts for the international community and neighboring countries,” the soldier added.
The exercises are given eleven days later after the United States announced Arms sales to Taiwan worth $11.1 billionThe largest arms package ever approved for the island sparked a protest from China’s defense ministry and warnings from the army “would take strict action” in response.
“It is a serious warning against Taiwanese separatist independence forces And external disruptive forcesand it is a legitimate and necessary measure to protect China’s sovereignty and national unity,” the colonel said. Shi YiEastern Theater Command spokesman on the maneuvers.
Analysts say Beijing’s operations are increasingly blurring the line between routine military exercises and possible preparation for an attack, a strategy intended to be offered to the United States and its allies a minimal warning margin before an offensive.
Fu ZhengyuanResearcher of the Academy of Military Sciences the Chinese armytold state media that the exercises were justified by concerns about growing interoperability between Taiwanese and North American combat systems, which, he explained, increases the risk of a direct confrontation between the two superpowers.
After the exercises began, the Chinese Foreign Ministry warned against any attempt to hinder Taiwan’s unification with China “It’s doomed to fail.”.
“External forces seeking to use Taiwan to contain China and to arm Taiwan will only encourage the arrogance of independence will bring the Taiwan Strait into the dangerous situation of impending war“said his spokesman. Lin Jian.
Monday’s exercises increased tensions on both sides. Karen Kuospokesman for the Taiwanese presidential office said The operation undermined the stability and security of the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region and openly defies international law and order.
“Our country strongly condemns the Chinese authorities for disregarding international standards and using military intimidation to threaten neighboring countries,” the spokesman said.
This was announced by the Taiwanese Ministry of Defense 89 Chinese military aircraft, 14 warships and 14 coast guard ships were in action around the island on Monday four more warships were discovered in the Western Pacific.
Authorities determined that some of the Chinese ships were involved Proximity confrontations with Taiwanese ships nearby connected area of the island, defined as the area up to 45 kilometers from the coast.
The ministry said Taiwan’s armed forces were deployed maximum alert and ready for implementation “Quick reaction exercises”designed for Deploy troops quickly in case the maneuvers lead to an attack. A separate statement said it had deployed appropriate forces and conducted combat readiness exercises in response.
In addition, the ministry published a video on Facebook in which it presented various weapon systems, including US-made Himarsa highly mobile artillery system with a range of approx 300 kilometerscapable of hitting coastal targets in the Chinese province Fujianin the south of the country and across the Taiwan Strait in the event of a conflict.
“The Chinese Communist Party’s selective military exercises confirm even more his nature as an aggressor and the greatest destroyer of peace“said the ministry.
The island’s coast guard reported deploying large vessels It plans to confront Chinese coast guard ships near its waters and coordinate with the armed forces to minimize the impact of the maneuvers on sea lanes and fishing areas.
Beijing sends fighter jets and naval ships to the island almost every dayand has intensified the scope and size of these exercises in recent years. In October, the Taiwanese government announced that it would accelerate the construction of an air defense system “Shield of Taiwan” either “T Dome” in view of the military threat from China.
China and Taiwan have been governed separately since 1949when a civil war brought the Communist Party to power in Beijing. The defeated Nationalist Party forces fled to Taiwan. The island has since been operated by its own government, although the Chinese government claims it as sovereign territory.
Officially recognized by only a dozen countries, The island has its own army and currency and has the United States as its main arms and security supplier.
The Chinese army released a series of propaganda postersalong with a graphic showing four points on the island with fixed targets following the announcement of the maneuvers.
The first poster seemed to show this Navy of civilian ships that China would mobilize to cooperate in a possible attack on Taiwan: ships with Ramps and open decks that could be used to perform one amphibious assault.
Another of the published posters shows “Arrows of Justice” falling on green worms which form the geographical outline of Taiwan.
The military also released a video created using artificial intelligence in which Eagles, sharks, wolves and bees are turned into Chinese military equipment and launch a sea and air attack on the island.
The order was published thematic posters about the exercises, accompanied by provocative words. One poster showed two Great Wall shields next to three military aircraft and two ships. His publication on social networks said that the exercises were underway “Shield of Justice, Devastating Illusion”and added that any foreign invader or separatist who touched the shields would be eliminated.
Chinese state television said the exercises will focus on the following Blockade of strategic deep sea ports from Taiwan: Keelingnorth of the island, and Kaohsiungto the south, the territory’s largest port city.
Agencies AP, AFP and Reuters
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