China holds military drills around Taiwan as 'punishment'

1. 'The drills are only getting bigger and more realistic'

   

   Rupert Wingfield-Hayes

   in Taipei

   In August 2022, following a historic visit by then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, China carried out its first “encirclement” operation, simulating a blockade of the main island of Taiwan with ships, aircraft and missile strikes.

   In the two years since, military incursions into Taiwanese waters and airspace have become a nearly weekly affair.

   This time analysts say China is going a stage further, simulating a full-scale attack on the island.

   They note that for the first time Taiwan’s outlying islands close to the Chinese coast have been included as targets.

   The aim of these operations is still primarily political. They serve as a warning to the new government of President William Lai – who is loathed by Beijing.

   But each of these operations also sets new norms for the penetration of Taiwan’s air and sea space by Chinese air, naval and rocket forces.

2. Taiwan’s presidential office reassures public

   Taiwan’s presidential office has said it is “regrettable” to see China“ using unilateral military provocations to threaten Taiwan's democracy and freedom”.

   Reassuring the public, the office added that Taiwan’s military units and national security team have a “comprehensive grasp of the situation”.

   “In the face of external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend democracy and are confident and capable of safeguarding national security. We ask the public to rest assured,” it said.

3. Taiwan condemns “irrational provocations”

   Taiwan said the drills on Thursday "highlight [Beijing's] militaristic mentality".

   Its defence ministry has dispatched naval, air, and ground forces to "defend the [island's] sovereignty", it said in a statement.

   "In recent years, the continuous harassment by Chinese aircraft and ships has significantly harmed global peace and stability,” Taiwan's defence ministry said.

   “This military exercise not only fails to contribute to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait but also highlights the aggressive militaristic mentality of the Chinese military," it added.

4. What is happening?

   China has started military drills around Taiwan just three days after William Lai was sworn in as the island's new president.

   A spokesperson for the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has called the drills a "strong punishment" for "separatist acts".

   The drills, which started early Thursday, are happening all around the main island, including the Taiwan Strait to its west, and around the Taiwanese islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.

   The PLA said they will focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrols, precision strikes on key targets, and integrated operations inside and outside the island to test the "joint real combat capabilities" of its forces.

   Beijing has labelled Mr Lai a "separatist" and a "troublemaker" over remarks he made in the past supporting Taiwanese independence. Taiwan's defence ministry condemned Beijing's actions, and said they dispatched forces in response.

5. Welcome to our coverage

   Welcome to our live coverage of Beijing’s military drills around Taiwan - which the People’s Liberation Army has called “punishment drills”. It said they were launched around 7:45 local time (23:45 GMT).

   Chinese military exercises in the skies and seas around Taiwan have become a routine exercise in the past few years, raising fears of a conflict. But Thursday’s drills are significant because they come three days after Taiwan’s new president William Lai was sworn in, and follow an election which was seen as a rejection of Beijing’s increasingly aggressive claims on the self-governed island.

   Stay with us as we bring you live updates.