Chinas punishment’ drills around Taiwan likely to grow more dangerous

Analysts see them as a prelude to bigger drills and more pressure on the new administration

- Yip Wai Yee

TAIPEI China's ongoing "punishment" military drills around Taiwan are only the first of more to come, and they will likely continue to become bigger and more dangerous, analysts have warned.

On the morning of May 23, Beijing announced immediate military exercises around Taiwan in what it said was a response to "separatist acts", just three days after the island inaugurated new President Lai Ching-te of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party.

China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, distrusts Mr Lai, describing him as a "dangerous separatist" and "troublemaker".

In his inaugural speech on May 20, Mr Lai urged Beijing to recognise the existence of the Republic of China - Taiwan's official name and to "respect the choices of the Taiwanese people".

He also used the term "China" when referring to China, which analysts have said can be seen to be pro-independence as it implies that China and Taiwan are two separate countries. His predecessors had used terms such as "the Beijing authorities" or "the other side of the Taiwan Strait" instead of "China".

A single letter of the English alphabet in the code name for China's military drills is telling that this is only the start of more intense pressure facing the new administration.

"This round of military drills is code-named 'Joint Sword-2024A"," noted Mr Sung Wen-Ti, a Taipei-based non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, an American think-tank.