Yesterday, the Chinese Navy initiated one of the most significant exercises of the year, with Taiwan as its main target. The maneuvers, under the name Joint Sword 2024A, or Joint Li Chien-2024A, directed by the Eastern Theater Command, will take place around the island and near the Taiwan Strait, focusing primarily on joint maritime-air patrols for combat, comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes against key targets.
What stands out about the two-day exercise is that it will occur in all directions around the island, as well as near the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin. The Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) stated that the drills are “a strong punishment for the separatist activities of Taiwan’s independent forces and a severe warning against interference and provocations from external forces.”
In response to this deployment, Taiwan has strongly condemned the exercise, calling it a threat to the peace and stability of the region. According to reports, the Taipei military is deploying Hsiung Feng III anti-ship missile batteries and defense systems. Additionally, images circulating in Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) sources show encounters between navy vessels of both states in the Strait, and the possible dispatch of 10 Taiwan Air Force F-16 fighters to control the island’s airspace.
Regarding the participating forces, according to the Ministry of Defense, 42 Chinese aircraft have been detected around the island and 28 near the median line. Fifteen navy ships and 16 coast guard vessels from China have also been sighted.
Some analysts anticipated that this exercise would be related to the inauguration of Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te, who assumed office in recent days. In his speech, he urged Beijing to recognize the existence of Taiwan and stated that “the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other,” using the formal names of each entity.
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