China announces military exercises as “punishment” for Taiwan

China began military exercises this Thursday morning (May 23, 2024) in the Taiwan Strait and around the island. According to Beijing, the initiative is “a strong punishment” To the “separatist acts” promoted in the territory.

The state media Xinhua said activities are being carried out in the Taiwan Strait in the north, south and east of the island, and in the areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin. They started at 7:45 am (local time) this Thursday (May 23) – 8:45 pm on Wednesday (May 22) in Brasília – and should continue until Friday (May 24).

According to the spokesman for the Chinese Armed Forces, Li Xi, the military exercises include the participation of the Army, Navy and Air Force, and the use of rockets. The joint operation was called Joint Sword-2024A.

It is about “a strong punishment” for Taiwanese separatist acts and “a stern warning against interference and provocation by external forces”, according to Li.

The initiative comes days after the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-Te, considered “separatist” by Beijing. Since Lai’s victory in the January elections, China has openly expressed its opposition. Before the election, the Chinese government even stated that the then candidate could mean a choice between war and peace.

In his inauguration speech on Monday (May 20), Lai urged China to “to stop political and military intimidation” from the island. According to him, “coercion“Chinese is one of the”greatest strategic challenges for peace and stability” of the world.

The next day, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Taiwan’s new president a “deplorable”.

According to the Chinese Armed Forces, the exercises this Thursday (May 23) “focus on joint air-sea combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes against key targets”.

The exercises involve patrolling ships and planes approaching areas around Taiwan and integrated operations inside and outside the island chain. It aims to “test the actual joint combat capabilities of the Forces”.