This Thursday, Taiwan described the military maneuvers that China launched around the island as “provocations and irrational actions,” as a “severe punishment for separatist acts,” three days after the new Taiwanese president, William Lai Ching-te, took office.

Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense “strongly” condemned the military exercises, “which undermine regional peace and stability” and demonstrate “the militaristic mentality of the Chinese Communist Party, which is the essence of military expansionism and hegemony.”

In a statement, the ministry added that it sent “sea, air and land forces in response (…) to defend the freedom, democracy and sovereignty” of Taiwan and assured that “all officers and soldiers of the national army are prepared for the war”. .

“It is regrettable to see China adopt unilateral and provocative military behavior, which threatens Taiwan’s democracy and freedom, as well as regional peace and stability,” he declared, also in a statement. Taiwanese presidential spokesperson Karen Kuo.

“In the face of external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend democracy,” he stressed.

China launches military exercises around Taiwan

At 7:45 a.m. (11:45 p.m. Wednesday in Lisbon), China launched maneuvers “in the Taiwan Strait, in the north, south and east of the island of Taiwan, as well as in the areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin,” said the official Chinese news agency Xinhua. These last islands are located in the vicinity of the eastern Chinese coast.

the spokesperson of the Eastern Theater Command of the armed forces China described the exercises as “severe punishment for the separatist acts of the ‘Taiwan independence’ forces and a stern warning against interference and provocation by external forces.”

The maneuvers, scheduled for two days, focus on joint preparation for air and sea combat, taking control of the battlefield and precision strikes against key targets, Li Xi said, quoted by Xinhua.

The spokesperson added that the military activity includes the patrol of ships and aircraft that “approach” the areas around the island of Taiwan and integrated operations “inside and outside” the archipelago to test the real combat capabilities of the forces. .

Speaking to Chinese state television CCTV, Zhang Chi, a professor at Beijing National Defense University, said: The maneuvers aim to “impose an economic blockade on the island”strangling the strategically important port of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan.

This blockade would cut “energy imports that are vital to Taiwan” and “block the support that some US allies are giving to Taiwan’s ‘independent’ forces,” Zhang said.

An inauguration speech criticized by Beijing

William Lai took office this Monday as president of the island, replacing Tsai Ing-wen (2016-2024), also of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, for its acronym in English).

Taiwan’s president-elect reiterates his offer of “unconditional” dialogue with Beijing

In the opening speechLai said that “peace has no price and war has no winners,” and made the intention clear maintain the current status quo between both sides of the Strait and not declare Taiwan independence.

The new President also affirmed that the Republic of China (official name of Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China “are not subordinate to each other” and that the sovereignty of the island rests with its 23 million inhabitants.

“There are those who call this land the Republic of China, there are those who call it Taiwan and there are those who call it Formosa. But whatever name is used to refer to our nation, we will shine anyway,” Lai said.

In response, the Chinese military’s official newspaper, the PLA Daily, stated that Lei’s words “are full of sinister intentions” and accused the new leader of “seeking independence through external means and using military force to achieve it.” .

In an editorial, the Diário do Povo, the official newspaper of the The Chinese Communist Party accused Lai of “inciting hatred against the Chinese people” and “unite around the flag of Taiwanese independence.”

The Chinese military’s official newspaper, the PLA Daily, noted that Lei’s words “are full of sinister intentions” and accused the new leader in Taiwan of “seeking independence through external means and using military force to achieve it.” revealing once again. his stubborn stance on ‘Taiwan independence.’”

The territory of 23 million inhabitants operates as a sovereign political entity, with its own diplomacy and army, despite not being officially independent. Beijing considers Taiwan part of Chinese territory and has already warned that a formal proclamation of independence would be seen as a declaration of war.

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