The Chinese government has announced the commencement of a comprehensive military exercise surrounding Taiwan. Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command responsible for the area where Taiwan is located in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), stated that elements from land, air, sea, and missile forces under the command will participate in the exercise. Colonel Shi emphasized that the drill, surrounding the territory of Taiwan, will focus on “sea-air combat readiness patrols, seizing comprehensive superiority, attacks on sea and land targets, securing key areas, and blockading sea lanes” intending to test the units’ joint operational capabilities.

Shi stated that the exercise will serve as a “harsh warning” and “strong deterrent” to separatist forces advocating for Taiwan’s independence, asserting that this is a “legitimate and necessary action” to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity. The Chinese military conducted similar comprehensive military drills surrounding the island in 2022 following a visit from then-Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, in 2023 after visits by then-Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen to the U.S., and in May 2024 following the assumption of office by Taiwan’s new leader Lai Ching-te and his inaugural “National Day” speech in October.

These drills are referred to as “Joint Sword” exercises. The China-Taiwan conflict originated from the civil war between the forces led by Chiang Kai-shek’s Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) and the forces under Mao Zedong’s leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) following WWII, with Mao’s communists emerging victorious and declaring the establishment of the People’s Republic of China on October 1, 1949. Defeated Kuomintang members retreated to Taiwan, claiming that the Republic of China established in 1912 continued to exist on the island. Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory, has maintained de facto independence since 1949, with the separation from the mainland ongoing.

In recent years, Beijing has increased military pressure on Taiwan, emphasizing that it does not rule out the use of force if necessary for the reunification of the island with the mainland.