China’s military on Monday dispatched its air force, navy and rocket forces to conduct joint military exercises around the island of Taiwan, a move Beijing called a “stern warning” against separatist and “external interference” forces.
The exercises came after China expressed anger over US arms sales to the territory and a statement by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi who said the military could be involved if China took action against Taiwan.
However, the Chinese military did not directly mention either the United States or Japan in its statement Monday morning.
“The Chinese Communist Party’s targeted military exercises further confirm its character as an aggressor and the greatest destroyer of peace,” the ministry said.
Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater District, said the training will be carried out in the Taiwan Strait and the northern, southwest, southeast and eastern regions of the island.
Shi said the activities would focus on naval and air combat readiness patrols, “joint seize of comprehensive superiority” and blockade of major ports.
It was also the first large-scale military exercise in which the command publicly stated that one of its goals was “all-dimensional deterrence beyond the island chain.”
“This is a stern warning to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and external interference forces, and is a legitimate and necessary action to protect China’s sovereignty and national unity,” Shi said.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Defense said in a post on X that its troops are on high alert to protect the island in case the situation escalates, and rapid response training is underway.
In a separate statement, the country said it had deployed appropriate forces and ordered combat readiness training in response.
Taiwan Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo said the operation undermines stability and security in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region, and openly challenges international law and order.
“Japan strongly condemns the Chinese authorities’ disregard for international norms and use of military threats to threaten neighboring countries.”
China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since 1949, when a civil war brought the Communist Party to power in Beijing.
Defeated Kuomintang forces fled to Taiwan, which has been run by its own government ever since. However, the Chinese government claims the country as sovereign territory and has not ruled out the possibility of using force to bring it under its control.
Live fire drill on Tuesday
China on Monday deployed destroyers, frigates, fighter jets, bombers and drones along with long-range rockets to the north and southwest of the Taiwan Strait.
Live-fire training against targets at sea was also conducted. Exercises testing the capabilities of sea-air coordination and accurate target acquisition were also conducted in sea-air areas east of the Strait.
A large-scale military exercise is scheduled for Tuesday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., the agency said, adding that it would organize live-fire operations and exercise five areas around the island.
The command has published themed posters about the training online. One poster featured two shields depicting the Great Wall of China alongside three military planes and two warships.
The group’s social media post said the training was about “the shield of justice, breaking illusions,” adding that any foreign forces or separatists who touched the shield would be eliminated.
last week, Chinese government imposes sanctions on 20 US defense companies The 10 executives took part a week after Washington announced plans for a major arms sale to Taiwan worth more than $10 billion (8.5 billion euros).
If approved by Congress, it would be the largest arms package for the self-governing territory in U.S. history.
Under long-standing U.S. federal law, the U.S. government is obligated to help defend Taipei, a point that has become increasingly contentious with China.
The United States and Taiwan had formal diplomatic relations until 1979, when the administration of U.S. President Jimmy Carter recognized and established relations with China.
The Chinese government sends fighter jets and naval vessels to the islands almost daily, and has expanded the scope and scale of these exercises in recent years.
In October, the Taiwanese government announced that it would accelerate the development of the “Taiwan Shield” or “T-Dome” air defense system in response to China’s military threat.
The military tensions come a day after Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan’an said during a visit to Shanghai that he wanted the Taiwan Strait to be linked to peace and prosperity, rather than “pounding waves and howling winds.”