THE Joint Sword-2024A exercises around Taiwan were testing the capabilities to seize power and take control of key area control, according to a spokesperson for the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command.
The exercises which started on Thursday are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, north, south, and east of Taiwan as well as neighboring islands.
According to the Eastern Theater Command, its rocket artillery is capable of delivering long-range and precise strikes against combat targets.
Members of the Eastern Theater Command said they are ready and will not hesitate to eliminate all ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces once Chinese President Xi Jinping and the military leaders give them the command.
The joint drills involved joint attacks on critical targets in the air and the sea, missile preparation, information sharing, and rapid response to emergencies, to name a few.
The Chinese Air Force continued its patrols around the island of Taiwan and surrounding islands.
As part of the One China principle, Beijing sees Taiwan as “an inalienable part of China’s territory” based on history and the true status quo. China also slammed Washington’s interference by selling weapons to the self-ruled island. The United States is Taiwan’s largest supplier of weapons.
China’s joint military drills took place a few days after William Lai Ching-te was officially sworn in as the sixth President of Taiwan on Monday. Lai who seeks to follow the footsteps of his predecessor Tsai Ing-Wen urged China to accept Taiwan’s existence.
U.S. President Joe Biden previously warned that American forces would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion which sparked ire from Beijing.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping told President Joe Biden during their meeting in San Francisco last year that Beijing will reunify Taiwan with mainland China but the timing has not yet been decided.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin said the military drills also serve as a warning against external interference and provocation.
