In response to the leader of the Taiwan region, Lai Ching-te's separatist speech on October 10, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted its Joint Sword-2024B drill in the Taiwan Strait and the north, south, and east of the island of Taiwan on Monday.
The drills involved vessels and aircraft approaching the island from multiple directions and coordinated assaults by joint forces. This military move demonstrates the Chinese government's determination to safeguard its territorial integrity and the PLA's capability to engage in real combat conditions.
Legitimate and necessary
Following the PLA's dispatch to the Taiwan region, the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), in collaboration with Western forces, labeled the Chinese mainland as \"undermining regional peace and stability.\"
However, before condemning Monday's military action, the DPP should recognize that Taiwan being part of China entitles the Chinese government to take necessary measures, including military activities, to protect the country's territorial integrity.
The PLA's military move in the Taiwan region is precisely targeted at \"independence.\" Since assuming office, Lai has seized every opportunity to advocate for \"Taiwan independence.\" His recent speech, under the guise of peace and development, promoted the \"two states\" theory. In this context, the mainland's military exercises on Monday serve as a strong punishment and deterrent to separatist activities and a stern warning against interference by external forces.
The intensity and frequency of the mainland's military activities depend entirely on the extent of the DPP's provocations. The codename of the exercise – Joint Sword-2024B, following Joint Sword-2024A in May, indicates that more and larger-scale military drills will follow in response to DPP provocations.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
