China has launched new military exercises around Taiwan, deploying jets and sending ships on patrols just days after the self-governing island nation swore in a new pro-US president, who Beijing criticized for raising tensions in his inauguration speech.
The military exercises, codenamed Joint Sword 2024A, will take place from Thursday to Friday, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. The exercises involve the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Rocket Force, which is involved in managing the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) nuclear and conventional missiles.
A PLA spokesman said the exercises will involve ships and aircraft around Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference on Thursday that Beijing was trying to “strongly punish” the “separatist forces.”
“All Taiwan independence separatist acts will be hit head-on by more than 1.4 billion Chinese people, and all Taiwan independence separatist forces will be hit hard in the face of the historical trend of China’s complete reunification,” Wang said. by Xinhua.
Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense condemned the new exercises for “endangering peace and stability”.
“We don’t look for conflict, but we won’t shy away from any. We have the necessary confidence to safeguard our national security,” said the ministry. wrote on social media platform X.
Taiwan’s new president, William Lai Ching-te, campaigned for closer relations with the US, with his victory in January being a major blow to Beijing.
The US has unofficial relations with Taiwan, but supports the nation with arms and congratulated Lai on his victory.
Although his government is closer to Washington, Lai defends maintaining Taiwan’s status quo, which means not calling for independence.
On your Monday inauguration speech, Lai hailed that the island nation “is a sovereign and independent nation, whose sovereignty is in the hands of the people.”
“The future of cross-strait relations will have a decisive impact on the world,” he said. “This means that we, who inherited a democratic Taiwan, are pilots of peace. Our government will uphold the Four Commitments, will not compromise or provoke, and will maintain the status quo.”
He also called on China to “cease political and military intimidation against Taiwan.”
China condemned the speech and called it a confession of Taiwan’s independence.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
