PLA Conducts Taiwan Encirclement Drills... "Will Test Actual Combat Capability"

Three days after Lai Ching-te's inauguration as Taiwan's president, the Chinese People's Liberation Army began large-scale military exercises effectively surrounding Taiwan.

The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army announced on its official WeChat channel on the 23rd that from 7:45 a.m., it would conduct joint military exercises for two days involving army, navy, air force, and rocket force units in the Taiwan Strait, northern, southern, and eastern Taiwan, as well as Kinmen Island and Matsu Islands.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The Eastern Theater Command explained that the exercises focus on checking air combat readiness around Taiwan Island, gaining control of the battlefield, precision strikes on key targets, and patrols around the island, aiming to test joint combat and actual combat capabilities.

Previously, China had criticized President Lai for signaling radical Taiwan independence in his inaugural speech. A spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command stated, "These exercises are a strong punishment (retaliation) against the 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces pursuing 'independence' and a stern warning against interference and provocations by external forces."

Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense issued a statement calling the exercises provocations that disrupt regional peace and stability, and announced that the navy, air force, and ground forces have been placed on alert.