According to the Chinese army, the exercises include simulations of the occupation and blockade of strategic areas of Taiwan, as well as training using live ammunition. The operation is codenamed “Justice Mission 2025”.
The Chinese armed forces also published videos online showing warships deployed in the Taiwan Strait, officially announcing the exercises. This area is extremely sensitivewhich is why maneuvers of this type are carefully monitored by the authorities in Taipei and their allies.
Taiwan's defense ministry announced that it had detected Chinese planes and ships near the island on Monday morning. In response, Taiwan mobilized its own forces and missile systems to monitor the situation.
Authorities in Taipei said the army was on “highest alert”to defend the island and “protect the population”. Taiwan's president's office criticized China's exercises, calling them a challenge to international norms.
The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese Armed Forces (ETC), responsible for the area of China's eastern coast, including the Taiwan Strait, posted a sharp message on Weibo. It called the exercises near a neighboring country a “shield of justice.”
“Everyone who is planning [wybić się na] independence, they will be annihilated in collision with the shield! — said the Chinese military command quoted by the BBC. The army specified that although some exercises have already started, the main part of them is scheduled for Tuesday between… 8.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. local time (between 2.00 a.m. and 12.00 p.m. Polish time).
Response to the US move
The timing of these exercises by the Chinese armed forces is not accidental. They take place just a few days after the United States announced the sale of an arms package to Taiwan worth approximately $11 billion. (PLN 39.5 billion).
Washington's decision sparked violent protests in Beijing — he responded by imposing sanctions on American defense companies. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and opposes any form of external military support for the island. Taiwan is aware of the threat – at the beginning of November it distributed an “anti-invasion” guide to the population so that they would know how to react in the event of a conflict with China.
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Some fear it may be inevitable – Beijing accuses Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te of seeking “Taiwan independence.” However, Lai claims that Taiwan is already a sovereign state and does not need to officially declare it.
In an interview on local television on Sunday, he said Taiwan must “continue to raise the bar so that (China) will never be able to meet the conditions” for an invasion. He also added that his administration is committed to remaining exactly as it is now and not provoking China. He also emphasized that peace is based on “real strength.”
The mood in Taiwan
How do the Taiwanese themselves view this? Polls consistently show that a majority of Taiwanese people support maintaining the status quo. This means that they want neither unification with China nor an official declaration of independence. At the same time, Taiwan is strengthening its defense. This year, he organized the largest and longest Han Kuang military exercises to date. They lasted 10 days and were intended to both prepare the population for a possible attack and to send a deterrent signal to Beijing.
From 2022, China will intensify military maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait. Typically, Beijing organizes them in response to events it considers a threat – such as former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan or the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te in 2024.
The latest exercises are the first exercises organized under the leadership of Yang Zhibin, the new head of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese Armed Forces, appointed to this position in October.
At the same time, tensions between China and Japan have increased. This happened after Japanese leaders suggested the possibility of intervention in the event of an attack on Taiwan. Beijing reacted sharply to these words. Relations between the countries are the tense they have been in years.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
