China Conducts Military Drills Around Taiwan to Demonstrate Power Seizure Capability

China's military drills around Taiwan aim to assess its capability to take control of the island, as stated by the People's Liberation Army. The exercises, which are the biggest in over a year, began with a second day of large-scale drills encircling Taiwan, its democratic neighbor.

These drills come shortly after Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, took office. Lai is known for advocating for Taiwan's sovereignty and unique identity, which has caused tension with Beijing.

Beijing has criticized Lai as a "dangerous separatist" and expressed disapproval of his inauguration speech on Monday. In the speech, he urged China to stop intimidating Taiwan, a behavior that has escalated significantly under Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA), much larger than Taiwan's military, began military exercises on Thursday morning. Warships and fighter jets were deployed around Taiwan and its surrounding islands as a response to what they deemed as "strong punishment for separatist actions by Taiwan independence forces."

A large screen in Beijing shows a Chinese fighter jet taking part in China's two-day military drills around Taiwan on May 23, 2020.

A large screen in Beijing shows a Chinese fighter jet taking part in China's two-day military drills around Taiwan on May 23, 2020.

The PLA's Eastern Theater Command announced on Friday that they are conducting drills on both sides of the Taiwan island chain. These drills are aimed at testing their ability to work together in seizing power, launching joint attacks, and occupying key areas.

China's ruling Communist Party considers Taiwan as part of its territory, even though they have never governed it. They are determined to capture the island by force if needed.

Despite the majority of Taiwanese not wanting to be under China's rule, Xi, China's authoritarian leader, insists that Taiwan will eventually reunite with the mainland.

The PLA is currently conducting two-day exercises in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding areas. This includes joint operations of China’s army, navy, air force, and rocket force. The Taiwan Strait is a narrow body of water that separates the island from mainland China. The drills also involve China’s Coast Guard for the first time, operating around Taiwan’s outlying islands such as Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin, located off the southeastern coast of China.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has criticized China’s military exercises as “irrational provocations” and has deployed its sea, air, and ground forces in retaliation.

During a 24-hour period from 6 a.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday, the ministry identified 49 Chinese aircraft, with 35 of them crossing the Median Line. This line serves as an unofficial boundary in the Taiwan Strait, which Beijing does not acknowledge but had generally adhered to in the past.

A total of 19 Chinese warships and seven coast guard vessels were detected near the Taiwan Strait, according to the ministry.

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