A record 125 Chinese aircraft have been involved in military exercises around Taiwan, according to the island’s defence ministry.
China said the exercise – Joint Sword 2024-B – was in response to Taiwan‘s president reiterating its sovereignty on national day last week.
“This is a resolute punishment for Lai Ching-te’s continuous fabrication of ‘Taiwan independence’ nonsense,” said China‘s Taiwan affairs office.
Taiwan’s defence ministry said 90 aircraft had entered its air defence identification zone, including planes, helicopters and drones, and that the overall figure of 125 was a single-day record.
Seventeen warships and China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier were also said to have been involved.
China regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out capturing the island of 23 million by force one day.
A map on China state broadcaster CCTV showed a map with six blocks encircling Taiwan, circles around outlying islands, and a jet taking off from an aircraft carrier.
Taiwanese Kuang Hua VI-class missile boats at Keelung on Monday. Pic: Reuters
China said it had conducted simulated missile launches, with jets opening up “air assault corridors” and bombers carrying out long range missions.
Taiwan’s defence ministry said warships were deployed for surveillance and that radar on land also monitored the vessels.
Chinese military spokesman Senior Captain Li Xi said the exercise was successfully completed on Monday evening.
“This is a major warning to those who back Taiwan independence and a signifier of our determination to safeguard our national sovereignty,” he said.
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Taiwan’s presidential office urged China to “cease military provocations that undermine regional peace and stability and stop threatening Taiwan’s democracy and freedom”.
China and Taiwan often conduct military drills to test and show off their military preparedness in the Taiwan Strait.
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In May, China conducted two days of manoeuvres after President Lai China-te’s inauguration.
There was also a major exercise and simulation of a blockade in 2022 after former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan.
The US, the island’s biggest ally, issued a statement on Monday urging China to “act with restraint and to avoid any further actions that may undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the broader region”.