China intensifies military drills around Taiwan, tensions soar

Beijing began military exercises around Taiwan on Monday. "China deployed planes and ships to encircle Taiwan on Monday," writes AFP. Taiwan's Ministry of Defense condemned the maneuvers, calling them "irrational and provocative behavior."

According to the Chinese Ministry of Defense, the People's Liberation Army's Eastern Command deployed forces composed of the army, navy, air, and missile units to conduct joint military exercises codenamed 'Joint Sword-2024B' in the Taiwan Strait and areas north, south, and east of Taiwan.

"With vessels and aircraft approaching Taiwan Island in close proximity from different directions, troops of multiple services engage in joint drills, focusing on subjects of sea-air combat-readiness patrol, blockade on key ports and areas, assault on maritime and ground targets, as well as joint seizure of comprehensive superiority." This was added in the statement.

The drill also serves as a stern warning to the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces. It is a legitimate and necessary operation for safeguarding state sovereignty and national unity, emphasized Li Xi, a spokesman for the Eastern Command of the People's Liberation Army.

Taiwan immediately responded to the Chinese maneuvers. In a statement from the Ministry of National Defense, Taipei "strongly condemn the PLA's irrational and provocative actions." In response, Taiwan is deploying its forces as "a legitimate and necessary operation for safeguarding national sovereignty and national unity."

The Chinese Ministry of National Defense also released a statement about patrols around the island.

The China Coast Guard's 201 formation, 1305 formation, 1303 formation, and 2102 formation carried out law enforcement patrols in the waters around Taiwan Island on October 14th, which is a practical action to manage and control the Taiwan Island, according to the one-China principle, said Liu Dejun, a spokesman for the China Coast Guard, on Monday morning.

Taiwan's Ministry of Defense announced in a press release that on Sunday, its army was put on alert after a Chinese aircraft carrier was detected to the south of the island.

"The Liaoning carrier group has entered waters near the Bashi Channel and is likely to advance toward the western Pacific," explained the ministry.

The army remains "ready to respond if necessary." Earlier on Sunday, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese army, responsible for the area including Taiwan, published a propaganda film on its social media accounts titled "Fully Prepared and Awaiting the Moment Before Battle."

Last Thursday, the ministry noted 27 air units and 14 naval units of the People's Liberation Army near Taiwan.

China has never ruled out the use of military force to regain control over Taiwan - an island it considers part of its territory. China has conducted three large-scale maneuvers in the past two years, using its air and naval forces to encircle the island.

Many experts have pointed out that a potential actual attack on the island could spark another large-scale conflict with global consequences.

PRC leader Xi Jinping maintains that "the reunification of the motherland is a historical inevitability," not excluding military intervention, adding that "China will surely be reunified."