Taiwan’s Defense Ministry has placed outlying islands on a “heightened alert” following the commencement of extensive military drills by China around the island. This escalation comes as President Lai Ching-te convenes a high-level security meeting on Monday to address the growing tensions.
China’s military began its latest round of exercises, dubbed Joint Sword-2024B, on Monday which are described as a “stern warning” against what Beijing perceives as separatist actions by Taiwan. The drills involve army, navy, and air forces and are taking place in areas surrounding Taiwan, including the northern, southern, and eastern regions.
The Chinese Defense Ministry stated that these operations aim to test the joint operational capabilities of their forces and assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan.
In response to the drills, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry condemned China’s actions as “irrational and provocative.” The ministry has assured that it is closely monitoring the situation and has deployed appropriate forces to safeguard Taiwan’s sovereignty and maintain regional stability.
During recent National Day celebrations, President Lai emphasized that Taiwan and China are “not subordinate to each other,” asserting Taiwan’s right to self-determination. His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from Beijing, which views them as a challenge to its claims over Taiwan.
The heightened military activity follows a series of confrontations between China and Taiwan, particularly after President Lai’s assertive speech during National Day celebrations.