China has launched live-fire drills around Taiwan, deploying air, navy and rocket troops for war games that it’s military said were aimed at testing combat readiness and delivering a “stern warning” against “separatist” and “external interference” forces.
The exercises on Monday prompted Taiwan to scramble soldiers and hardware to rehearse repelling an attack.
It came amid anger in Beijing over an $11.1bn weapons sale to Taiwan by the United States, as well as a statement by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested that the Japanese military could get involved if China were to attack the self-governed island.
Beijing considers Taiwan as part of its territory and has pledged to take control of the island by force if necessary.
In a statement, the Chinese military’s Eastern Theatre Command said it had concentrated forces to the north and southwest of the Taiwan Strait and carried out live firing and simulated strikes on land and maritime targets.
The drills, dubbed Just Mission 2025, would continue on Tuesday and include exercises to blockade the island’s main ports and encircle it.
Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the Eastern Theatre Command, said in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo that the activities will focus “on training for maritime and aerial combat readiness patrols, gaining integrated control, sealing off key ports and areas and conducting multi-dimensional deterrence”. The drills serve “as a serious warning to ‘Taiwan Independence’ separatist forces and external interference forces”, he added.
