The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China is set to conduct drills in the Taiwan Strait involving its army, navy, air force, and rocket force. The exercises, scheduled for Thursday and Friday, will focus on sea-air combat-readiness, capturing battlefield control, and precision strikes on key targets. These drills are meant to demonstrate China’s combat capabilities and serve as a warning to the forces advocating for Taiwan’s independence.
In response, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry has deployed aircraft, navy vessels, and coastal missile systems to monitor the PLA forces’ movements. Taiwan, a de facto autonomous region, has expressed concerns about the exercises jeopardizing regional stability.
The newly-inaugurated Taiwanese president, Lai Ching-te, has called on Beijing to acknowledge Taiwan’s existence and cooperate with the island’s government chosen by its people. Beijing, however, has criticized Lai’s statements as provocative and separatist, vowing to counteract and punish external influences.