TAIPEI — China’s military vowed to take further action against Taiwan if needed after staging a day of war games on Monday it said were a warning to “separatist acts” and which drew condemnation from the Taiwanese and U.S. governments.
Democratically governed Taiwan had been bracing for more war games since last week’s national day speech by President Lai Ching-te, but some analysts said Monday’s actions seemed calibrated to avoid inflaming the U.S. presidential race.
Lai’s address was condemned by Beijing after he said China had no right to represent Taiwan even as he offered to cooperate with Beijing, which views Taiwan as China’s own territory. Lai and his government say only Taiwan’s people can decide their future.
The Chinese military’s Eastern Theatre Command said the “Joint Sword-2024B” drills took place in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan.
But shortly after announcing their completion, China’s defence ministry issued a warning that these drills were not a repeat of the earlier “Joint Sword-2024A” war games held in May, but an increase in pressure against Taiwan independence, and said more could follow.
“The People’s Liberation Army’s actions will be pushed further with each ‘Taiwan independence’ provocation until the Taiwan issue is completely resolved,” the ministry said in a statement.
The theatre command said the drills were a “stern warning” to the separatist acts of Taiwan independence forces. “It is a legitimate and necessary operation for safeguarding state sovereignty and national unity,” it said in a statement.
The Pentagon slammed the war games, calling them destabilising. “This military pressure operation is irresponsible, disproportionate, and destabilizing,” Pentagon spokesperson Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said in a statement.
The theatre command did not announce any dates for further large-scale drills.
Chinese warship formations, destroyers and aircraft were approaching Taiwan in “close proximity from different directions,” focusing on sea-air combat-readiness patrols, blockading key ports and areas, and assaulting maritime and ground targets, the command added.
Chinese state media said the rocket force carried out simulated missile launches while fighter jets “opened up air assault corridors” and bombers carried out long range missions.