The Chinese coast guard has deployed four fleets around Taiwan for “inspections”. The coast guard announced this on Monday shortly after Beijing announced the start of military manoeuvres. The Taiwanese coast guard confirmed on Monday that it had spotted groups of boats from the Chinese coast guard.
Fleets 2901, 1305, 1303, and 2102 conducted “law enforcement inspections” “in the waters around Taiwan Island by the law based on the ‘one China’ principle,” it said.
In Taiwan, “several boats” were reported to have crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which bisects the 180-kilometre-wide strait between mainland China and Taiwan. The Chinese remained “in the north, southwest, and east in the forms of convoys in our waters,” the Taiwanese Coast Guard said.
Military manoeuvres
China began military manoeuvres Monday that will encircle Taiwan with aircraft and boats. The Joint Sword-2024B exercise aims to test the military’s “joint operational capabilities,” Beijing said. It also warns against “separatist actions by Taiwanese independence forces.”
It is not clear how long the manoeuvres will last. State broadcaster CCTV showed a map showing six large red blocks around Taiwan where the exercises occur.
In response to the announcement of the manoeuvres, Taiwan said it had “deployed appropriate forces.” Taiwan’s Defense Ministry also condemned the “irrational and provocative behaviour.”
Taiwanese President
China considers democratically governed Taiwan as part of its territory that can be retaken by force if necessary. Last week, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said in a speech marking the national holiday that China has no right to represent Taiwan.
China’s military exercises around Taiwan, a democracy of 23 million people, have become increasingly frequent in recent years, and have usually coincided with events that have angered Beijing. In August 2022, China launched a week-long military exercise following a visit to the island by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In May, China held the Joint Sword-2024A exercises for two days, shortly after Lai was sworn in as president. The move came as “punishment” for separatist statements in Lai’s first speech as president, Beijing said.
Ahead of the exercises, the Eastern Theater Command released a propaganda video titled “Prepared for Battle” on its social media accounts. The roughly minute-long video shows fighter jets, warships, and amphibious assault ships in the air and at sea, and mobile missile launchers being moved into place. The accompanying text said that the command “is prepared for battle at all times and can fight at any time.”
“Unjustified”
Meanwhile, the US Department of the Interior has also responded to the military manoeuvres, calling them “unjustified.” “The response (of the Chinese military, ed.) with military provocations to an annual speech (by the Taiwanese president, ed.) is unjustified and poses a risk of escalation,” spokesman Matthew Miller said in a press release.
“We call on China to act with restraint and avoid further actions that could undermine peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the broader region, which is essential for regional peace and prosperity,” Washington said.