China Holds Major Drills Around Taiwan as ‘Warning’ to President Lai

By Yian Lee and Philip Glamann / Bloomberg
Updated: October 13, 2024 10:05 PM EDT | Originally published: October 13, 2024 9:37 PM EDT

China’s armed forces held more drills around Taiwan that it said were intended as a warning to the democratically run government to halt “separatist acts.”

The exercises on Monday involved army, navy, air and rocket forces, a spokesperson for the Chinese military said in a statement on social media. State broadcaster China Central Television posted a map that showed six large red blocks around Taiwan where the drills occurred, and three smaller red circles that marked offshore outposts.

The military activity was “a stern warning to the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan independence’ forces,” the spokesperson said. “It is a legitimate and necessary operation for safeguarding state sovereignty and national unity.”

The drills underscore China’s persistent efforts to squeeze new Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. They were named “Joint Sword-2024B,” following on from the “2024A” exercises held right after his inauguration in May. Like exercises two years ago after then House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei, the People’s Liberation Army appeared to be practicing a blockade of Taiwan — a semiconductor hub that sits next to a key shipping lane.

Read More: Taiwan’s New President Lai Ching-te Is Standing His Ground

China has used a range of tactics to try to pressure Lai since he won election in January, including peeling off one of Taiwan’s few remaining diplomatic allies, ordering increased Coast Guard activity around islets that Taipei controls and ending tariff exemptions on some agricultural products from the archipelago of 23 million people.

On Saturday, Beijing said it was studying “adopting further measures” against Taiwan for banning certain Chinese shipments. Taiwan responded by saying China was using cross-strait trade as a political weapon.

The latest PLA activity came after Lai said in a speech last week that he’d stand up to the challenges posed by China, which views Taiwan as territory that must be brought under its control, by force if necessary. Last month, Lai held the first meeting of a civil defense committee aimed at keep the archipelago resilient in any emergency.

Taiwan’s Defense Ministry condemned Beijing’s latest military actions, saying in a statement that it dispatched forces to respond, though without providing details. It also said Lai’s speech on National Day highlighted his firm determination to maintain peace and stability in the strait.

The U.S. backs Taiwan with arms sales that anger Beijing, and also politically and economically. President Joe Biden has said four times the U.S. would defend the chipmaking hub from a Chinese attack, though he’s also said he doesn’t support independence for Taiwan—a red line for Beijing.