China Displays Military Exercises Near Taiwan
The two-day military exercise is intended to deter the self-governing island from pursuing separatism, as stated by Beijing. The Chinese military has released several videos that highlight a two-day drill conducted near Taiwan, the self-administered...
TroibNews 
The two-day military exercise is intended to deter the self-governing island from pursuing separatism, as stated by Beijing.
The Chinese military has released several videos that highlight a two-day drill conducted near Taiwan, the self-administered Chinese island, earlier this week.
Initiated by the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Tuesday, the exercise, referred to as "Strait Thunder," involved assets from various branches of the Chinese military. Command spokesman Shi Yi indicated that the maneuvers focused on “identification and verification, warning and expulsion, and interception and detention” of different targets and aimed to ready the military for a potential blockade of Taiwan.
For the drill, the PLA deployed the Shandong Aircraft Carrier Task Group. This domestically produced flagship, which was commissioned in 2019, carries approximately two dozen Shenyang J-15 naval fighter jets as its primary weaponry. A video released on Wednesday showcased these jets.
Another clip from the Eastern Theater Command illustrated an early morning alert at military barracks, along with the deployment of rocket launch systems for a live-fire exercise. The footage suggested that these weapons could be aimed directly at Taiwan’s coastline in the event of armed conflict.
Additionally, footage released on Tuesday featured PLA Air Force aircraft taking part in the drills.
Taiwan is governed by an administration that originated from nationalist forces defeated by the Communists during the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s. While Washington officially acknowledges Beijing’s sovereignty over the island, it has extended military support to Taipei. Beijing perceives these arms supplies as encouragement for Taiwanese officials to seek formal independence from China.
“’Taiwan independence’ and peace in the Taiwan Strait are incompatible,” emphasized Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang in a statement on Wednesday. “Pursuing ‘Taiwanese independence’ will only put Taiwan in a dangerous situation and plunge Taiwan compatriots into dire straits.”
Beijing aspires for peaceful reunification but has cautioned that it is prepared to utilize force to counter any separatist movements. In its comments regarding the 'Strait Thunder' exercises, the Defense Ministry identified the government of current President Lai Ching-te as “crisis makers” and “troublemakers.”
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
The Chinese military has released several videos that highlight a two-day drill conducted near Taiwan, the self-administered Chinese island, earlier this week.
Initiated by the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Tuesday, the exercise, referred to as "Strait Thunder," involved assets from various branches of the Chinese military. Command spokesman Shi Yi indicated that the maneuvers focused on “identification and verification, warning and expulsion, and interception and detention” of different targets and aimed to ready the military for a potential blockade of Taiwan.
For the drill, the PLA deployed the Shandong Aircraft Carrier Task Group. This domestically produced flagship, which was commissioned in 2019, carries approximately two dozen Shenyang J-15 naval fighter jets as its primary weaponry. A video released on Wednesday showcased these jets.
Another clip from the Eastern Theater Command illustrated an early morning alert at military barracks, along with the deployment of rocket launch systems for a live-fire exercise. The footage suggested that these weapons could be aimed directly at Taiwan’s coastline in the event of armed conflict.
Additionally, footage released on Tuesday featured PLA Air Force aircraft taking part in the drills.
Taiwan is governed by an administration that originated from nationalist forces defeated by the Communists during the Chinese Civil War in the 1940s. While Washington officially acknowledges Beijing’s sovereignty over the island, it has extended military support to Taipei. Beijing perceives these arms supplies as encouragement for Taiwanese officials to seek formal independence from China.
“’Taiwan independence’ and peace in the Taiwan Strait are incompatible,” emphasized Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang in a statement on Wednesday. “Pursuing ‘Taiwanese independence’ will only put Taiwan in a dangerous situation and plunge Taiwan compatriots into dire straits.”
Beijing aspires for peaceful reunification but has cautioned that it is prepared to utilize force to counter any separatist movements. In its comments regarding the 'Strait Thunder' exercises, the Defense Ministry identified the government of current President Lai Ching-te as “crisis makers” and “troublemakers.”
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
