Maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait: China simulates “precision strikes” against Taiwan

China has scheduled its military maneuvers for three days. According to its state broadcaster, it also simulates “precision strikes” on “key targets” against Taiwan, to which Beijing claims. The US is calling on China to exercise restraint.

China has continued military maneuvers around Taiwan, simulating attacks on key targets on the island. This was reported by the Chinese state television broadcaster CCTV. The military rehearsed “joint precision strikes” against “key targets on the island of Taiwan and in the surrounding waters”. CCTV also reported that Beijing used dozens of army planes to “fly into the targeted airspace.” Ground forces also conducted exercises with “precision strikes with multiple targets”.

The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense discovered nine warships and 58 military aircraft around the island by noon. These are both fighter jets and bombers.

31 aircraft penetrated Taiwan’s southwestern air defense zone – a buffer zone between the island nation and the People’s Republic of China. Chinese military movements would be monitored by a joint surveillance and reconnaissance system.

US warns China to exercise restraint

The Washington government is closely monitoring China’s actions, a US State Department spokesman said. “We have always called for restraint and not to change the status quo.” The communication channels with Beijing remained open.

At the same time, the ministry spokesman emphasized that the US “has sufficient resources and capabilities in the region to ensure peace and stability and to fulfill our national security obligations”. The US has been helping Taiwan build up its defense capabilities for decades, but has made no explicit commitment to providing military assistance to the island in the event of an attack.

Tsai: “Authoritarian Expansionism”

China’s army described the three-day military exercise near Taiwan as a “warning” to “separatist forces”. According to Chinese state media, the encirclement of Taiwan will also be practiced.

The current maneuver comes amid tensions between China and Taiwan and its supporter, the United States. It began on Saturday, the day after Taiwan President Tasi Ing-wen returned from a trip to the United States. Tsai accused Beijing of “authoritarian expansionism” on Saturday. She clarified that Taiwan “will continue to work with the United States and other countries (…) to defend the values ​​of freedom and democracy.”

Taipei is under increasing pressure from Beijing. Since the split between China and Taiwan in 1949, Beijing has viewed the island as a breakaway territory that it wants to reunite with the mainland – if necessary using military force. In the past three years, China has increased its military pressure on the democratically governed and industrially well-developed Taiwan. There are regular outreaches around the island.