Taiwan vows to protect 'freedom' amid China's 'punitive' military exercises
Taiwan vows to protect 'freedom' amid China's 'punitive' military exercises: Here's a look at the current military exercises. The People's Liberation Army's Eastern Theater Command began a two-day joint military exercise on Thursday and Friday. The code name for this exercise is "Joint Sword-2024A."
Dozens of PLA fighter jets, several destroyers, and frigates were spotted orbiting Taiwan and its offshore islands. The exercise began Thursday morning.
This is not the first time China has conducted military exercises near Taiwan. Xi Jinping's country has conducted intensive military exercises around the island almost every day for the past four years. Most recently, large-scale military exercises were held near the island in 2023 and 2022.
In August 2022, China launched unprecedented large-scale live-fire military exercises around Taiwan following a visit from former US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
What prompted China's "punitive" military exercises?
China's attempt to conduct new military exercises shows its dissatisfaction with Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-de. For those unfamiliar, China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take control of the island by force if necessary. Taiwan is currently a self-governing island.
The exercise took place three days after Lai Ching-toku was sworn in as Taiwan's new president and delivered an inaugural speech in which he criticized China for its "professed independence."
Described by China as a "dangerous separatist" who would bring "war and decline" to Taiwan, Lai praised him in his inaugural address for ushering in a "glorious" era for Taiwan's democracy. The prime minister also called on China to end its threats and said the two countries in the strait were "not subordinate to each other", according to Reuters.
On Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi slammed Mr. Lai as "shameful."
Later, Chinese state media said that the recent training by a spokesperson for the People's Liberation Army Command was "a severe punishment for the 'Taiwan Independence Army''s separatist actions and a serious warning against interference and provocation by outside forces." I was told that he said that.
At the start of the exercise, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin was quoted by AFP as saying, ``The Taiwanese Independence Army was left behind with its head broken and covered in blood after colliding with China's great trend of complete unification.'' "."
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