Taiwan slams China for 'blatant provocation' after Beijing's military drills around self-ruled island ends

China announced the end of two days of military drills around Taiwan late Friday (May 24), which it said simulated attacks to test its ability to seize the self-governed island. Taiwan on Saturday slammed China for the drills, calling it a “blatant provocation to the international order”.

China announces end of military drills

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has “successfully completed” the ‘Joint Sword-2024A’ drill against Taiwan, reported CCTV-7, China’s state-run military news channel, in a broadcast late Friday (May 24), as per AFP news agency.

Add WION as a Preferred Source

The drills came days after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te – who China has previously called a “separatist” – took office. Lai’s speech during his inauguration was also denounced by Beijing as a “confession of independence”.

WATCH |Is China preparing to invade Taiwan?

China had also called the two-day military drill a “punishment” for the recentl inauguration speech of the new Taiwanese president, during which he said two sides of the Taiwan Strait were “not subordinate to each other,” which Beijing viewed as a declaration that the two are separate countries.

China has long considered democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, a claim which the self-governed island has rejected.

Lai also said that only Taiwan’s people can decide their future, and rejected Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

China has regularly staged military activities around Taiwan, including large-scale war games in 2022 as well as last year, in what is being seen as an escalating campaign of intimidation by Beijing against the self-governed island.

‘Blatant provocation’ to world order

“China’s recent unilateral provocation not only undermines the status quo of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait but it is also a blatant provocation to the international order, triggering serious concern and condemnation from the international community,” said a statement attributed to Taiwan’s Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo, as quoted by AFP.

She added that Taiwan hopes "China will take the safety and happiness of the people on both sides into consideration, pursue mutual benefit, coexistence... stop all kinds of political and military intimidations on Taiwan and the region".

Speaking about China's various military actions, Kuosaid that "the president and the national security team have a full grasp of the situation" and called for the public to "rest assured".

Taiwan reports Chinese warplane, warship surge

Taiwan’s defence ministry on Saturday said a total of 111 Chinese aircraft and dozens of naval vessels took part in the two-day drills surrounding the island.

Also Read |Taiwan detects 62 Chinese aircraft around island on day two of Beijing's military drills

As of Saturday at 6:00 am (local time), around 62 Chinese warplanes and 27 PLAN vessels were detected around the self-governed island, said Taiwan’s defence ministry.

It also reported that 47 Chinese warplanes crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the island’s southwestern, southeastern, and eastern Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

Taiwan Strait’s median line has previously served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides.

“ROC (Republic of China) Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities,” said Taiwan’s defence ministry.

Dozens of Chinese aircraft which included advanced Su-30 fighters and nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, flew in the strait as well as down into the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines, reported the self-governed island’s defence ministry.

‘Closer than ever before’

Chinese military analyst Tong Zhen, an expert from the Academy of Military Sciences, told state news agency Xinhua that the PLA vessels had inched “closer than ever before” to Taiwan’s shores.

The exercises involved simulating strikes targeting the island’s leaders as well as its ports and airports, as per Xinhua.

This would “cut off the island’s ‘blood vessels’ and block out its ‘foreign aid regiments’,” Tong was quoted as saying.

(With inputs from agencies)