A member of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) sits in an aircraft during the “Joint Sword-2024B” military drills around Taiwan, from an undisclosed location in this screenshot from a handout video released by the PLA Eastern Theatre Command… Purchase Licensing Rights
Published October 15, 2024
TAIPEI, Oct 15 (Reuters) – China used a record 153 military aircraft in war games around Taiwan, the island’s government said on Tuesday, adding that such drills without prior warning were a danger to the entire region.
China said the one-day “Joint Sword-2024B” drill, conducted with no advance notice on Monday, was a warning against “separatist acts” after a national day speech last week by Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te that Beijing had denounced.
Beijing views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a claim the government in Taipei rejects, saying only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.
“Any drills without prior warning will cause great disturbance to peace and stability in the entire region,” Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai told reporters in Taipei.
“China’s drills not only affect Taiwan’s neighbourhood, but also seriously affect the entire international navigational rights and air and sea space, so attracted the attention of other countries.”
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SOURCE: www.reuters.com
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4China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier takes part in the Joint Sword-2024B military drills east of Taiwan, in this screenshot from video released Monday. | PLA EASTERN THEATER COMMAND / VIA REUTERS
Published October 15, 2024
Japan and the U.S. have condemned large-scale Chinese military exercises around Taiwan, after Beijing wrapped up the drills late Monday with a vow never to renounce the use of force to take control of the island — a hint that more shows of force are to come.
The daylong Joint Sword-2024B exercises, which took place in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan, were intended to serve as “a stern warning” to “separatist” forces, the Chinese military said.
China views democratic Taiwan as its “core of core issues” and regards the island as a renegade province that must be unified with the mainland, by force if necessary.
“We are willing to exert utmost sincerity and make every effort to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification, but we will never promise to renounce the use of force, nor will we leave any room for Taiwan independence,” Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said Monday.
The drills, Wu warned, were not a repeat of the earlier Joint Sword-2024A war games China held in May, but rather an increase in pressure against Taiwan independence “provocations.”
More, he hinted, could follow.
“Every provocation by Taiwan independence forces will be met with a further step by the PLA until the Taiwan question is completely resolved,” he added, using the acronym for China’s People’s Liberation Army.
Taiwan said the Chinese military had flown 153 aircraft — a record — toward the island in the 24 hours through 6 a.m. Tuesday, besting the previous daily record of 103, set in September last year. Taipei said it had also tracked 14 Chinese naval vessels and 12 coast guard ships near the island.
