China 'punishes' Taiwan as war games staged off coast

Threatening exercises after pro-Western president elected

- NAMITA SINGH

China has declared two days of major military exercises simulating an invasion of Taiwan, in a provocative move that it describes as “punishment” for the island’s newly inaugurated president.

Dozens of Chinese fighter jets carrying live missiles were scrambled towards Taiwan yesterday without any advance warning, and Beijing conducted mock strikes in targeted areas around the island. The drills are thought to be the most expansive yet, encompassing areas that include Taiwanese islands near the Chinese mainland and are by far the biggest since the aftermath of then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the region in 2022.

The exercises were dubbed “2024 A” by Chinese officials, suggesting they could be the first of many this year. And while experts said they were clearly designed to send a message to the new Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te, the drills have also been met with deep concern by countries across the Pacific region.

China’s mock strikes hit simulated high-value military targets, ships and warplanes of the “enemy” and were conducted in coordination with naval ships and missile forces, according to Colonel Li Xi, spokesperson for the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command. The drills came three days after Mr Lai – a man Beijing detests as a “separatist” – took office as Taiwan’s new president.

Taiwan responded by scrambling its own jets and putting its entire military on alert. Its presidential office expressed regret that China was threatening the island’s democratic freedoms, as well as regional peace and stability, with its “unilateral military provocations”, but said people should rest assured Taiwan can and will ensure its security.