China launches a new series of military exercises near Taiwan

Beijing has begun a new round of military exercises near Taiwan just days after the self-governed island celebrated its National Day. The drills, named Joint Sword-2024B, are taking place to the north, south, and east of Taiwan, and focus on sea-air combat-readiness patrols, blockades on key ports, and assaults on maritime and ground targets. Captain Li Xi, spokesperson for China’s military Eastern Theatre Command, emphasized that the exercises are a "legitimate and necessary operation for safeguarding state sovereignty and national unity."

These drills have drawn condemnation from Taiwan's Ministry of Defence, which described China’s actions as “irrational and provocative.” Taiwan has responded by dispatching its own forces to monitor the situation, with its Defence Ministry reporting that 25 Chinese aircraft and 11 naval ships were operating around the island as of Monday morning.

The presidential office in Taiwan urged China to respect the Taiwanese people’s choice of democracy and freedom and to cease its military provocations. Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te, who gave his first National Day address on October 10, made it clear that the island would resist any attempts by Beijing to annex or encroach upon Taiwan’s sovereignty. Lai’s speech stressed the desire for healthy and orderly dialogue with Beijing, despite the ongoing tensions.

China's state media, however, criticized Lai’s remarks. The Global Times labeled his outreach to Beijing as a “poison pill wrapped in cellophane,” accusing him of promoting a “two-state” theory, further escalating tensions between the two sides. Lai had noted the different ages of the governments in Taiwan and China in his National Day speech, highlighting that Taiwan’s Republic of China is 113 years old, while the People’s Republic of China celebrated its 75th anniversary earlier in the month.

Experts believe China’s military exercises are a response to Lai’s speech, as well as a demonstration to the domestic audience that the Chinese Communist Party remains determined to assert its authority over Taiwan. Lev Nachman, a professor at the National Taiwan University, said that while these military threats are concerning, the response was expected and urged calm, noting that “it will pass quickly.”

China has not ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and has repeatedly staged military drills near the island in recent years. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory, although Taiwan operates as a self-governed democratic state. The latest drills come after China conducted similar military exercises, Joint Sword-2024A, in response to Lai’s inauguration earlier in the year.

Observers believe that China’s increased military activity near Taiwan is partly aimed at testing international reactions, especially during a time of global unrest with conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and threats from North Korea. Kuang-shun Yang, co-founder of the US-Taiwan Watch, suggested that Beijing could be gauging the level of international support for Taiwan amidst these global flashpoints.

The United States, Taiwan’s key international ally and weapons supplier, expressed deep concern over China’s latest military exercises. The U.S. State Department called the military provocations an "unwarranted" response to a routine annual speech and warned that such actions risk escalation. The State Department urged China to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could undermine regional peace and stability.

As China continues to seek ways to marginalize Taiwan on the international stage, the military drills serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing tensions between Beijing and Taipei. While both sides have called for peace, the prospects for meaningful dialogue remain distant as China persists in its military threats and Taiwan continues to assert its right to self-determination.