Chinese warships and fighter jets have surrounded Taiwan on Monday in what has been seen as a possible threat of invasion.
Taipei has said this is an “unreasonable provocation” by Chinese military conducting drills which is called Joint Sword 2024-B involves rocket forces, the army, air force and navy around the self-governing Island.
Beijing has said this is a “stern warning” to “separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces” as warships and fighter jets have been deployed encircling the island.
Taiwan’s presidential office called on China to “cease military provocations that undermine regional peace and stability, and stop threatening Taiwan’s democracy and freedom.”
Taiwan has threatened they will respond to any force by China which is being reported as the largest invasion warning ever seen.
President Lai Ching-te said, “In the face of external threats, I would like to reassure my compatriots that the government will continue to defend the democratic and free constitutional system, protect democratic Taiwan, and safeguard national security.
On Sunday Taiwan’s Defence Ministry said that Beijing’s aircraft carrier Liaoning entered the strategic Bashi Channel south of Taiwan.
The China Coast Guard said that four CCG fleets conducted joint military drills code-named Joint Sword-2024B around the #Taiwan island.
It is a practical action to lawfully enforce control over Taiwan island in accordance with the one-China principle, said of the CCG. pic.twitter.com/hNRVycNN0p
— 鳳凰資訊 PhoenixTV News (@PhoenixTV_News) October 14, 2024
This stretch of water separated Taiwan from the Philipines and China was conducting military drills east of the island on “vessel and jet coordination, joint air control, and maritime and land strikes,” according to CCTV, CNN reports.
Spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mao Ning said Monday, “Taiwan independence and peace in the Taiwan Strait are incompatible, and the provocation of Taiwan independence forces will inevitably be countered.”
Adding, “It again exposed his stubborn stand of Taiwan independence and sinister intention of increasing tension in the Taiwan Strait to seek political gain.”
The former US National Security Advisor and UN ambassador John Bolton told Daily Express US this is a prolonged “air and naval blockade” rather than an outright invasion at this current time to send a clear message to Taipei’s allies to test their responses.
Bolton added, “Beijing doesn’t want a grinding World War One kind of conflict. They want to take over Taiwan with its production facilities, and its infrastructure intact. They want that added to Chinese capabilities.
“So I think at this point, the more likely scenario, not less dangerous just a different scenario than an outright invasion is they create the pretext for some kind of crisis over Taiwan.
“They throw a naval and air blockade around it. They wait to see if the United States, Japan and others come to Taiwan’s side. That’s why this question of being able to supply a military effort across the Pacific is so important.”
The PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command spokesperson Navy Senior Captain Li Xi said, “This is a major warning to those who back Taiwan independence and a signifier of our determination to safeguard our national sovereignty.”
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