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‘Prepared for battle’: China’s chilling threat against Taiwan

Taiwan is “on alert” after a China made alarming moves on its territory, with Beijing issuing a terrifying war threat out of the blue.

Jamie SeidelJamie Seidel
@JamieSeidel
4 min read
October 14, 2024 - 11:03PM
China launches military drills around Taiwan

Taiwan is “on alert” after China declared a snap joint military exercise and ordered an aircraft carrier battlegroup to circle the island nation.

This morning, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theatre Command formally announced the no-notice military manoeuvres in an anticipated response to Taiwan’s new President giving a stoic National Day speech.

President Lai Ching-te angered Beijing after refusing to accept the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) holds any form of sovereignty over his democratic state, and insisted it had no right to speak on behalf of the Taiwanese people.

Lai also vowed to “resist annexation”.

Chairman Xi Jinping has repeatedly threatened to invade the last remaining bastion of the old Republic of China during his constitution-bending three terms of office.

Beijing retorted to “separatist” Lai’s defiant stand, calling his words “provocations” that would result in “disaster”.

On Sunday, the PLA Eastern Command released a propaganda video on its social media accounts titled, “Fully prepared and biding one’s time before battle”.

On Monday morning, it proclaimed that “joint military exercises in the surrounding waters and airspace near Taiwan” would begin immediately – just hours after Taipei stated it had detected a Chinese aircraft carrier operating off its southern coast.

“(Taiwan) strongly condemns the PLA’s irrational and provocative actions and will deploy appropriate forces to respond and defend our national sovereignty,” its defence ministry asserted.

Military intimidation

“This not only demonstrates PLA’s unwavering commitment to being prepared to safeguard China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also acts as a warning to ‘Taiwan independence’ forces after Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te’s latest provocative speech,” asserts the CCP-controlled Global Times news service.

The PLA propaganda video, it notes, is titled: “Zhen Ge Dai Dan”.

“(This) is derived from a historical story, which literally means ‘resting on a dagger-axe and waiting for the dawn’,” it adds.

CCP military commentator Zhang Junshe says the video “serves as a warning to ‘Taiwan independence’ forces and the external forces seeking to interfere in China’s domestic affairs”.

Taiwan, however, refuses to accept it is part of the CCP’s “domestic” domain.

Taipei has been waiting for Beijing to react militarily since the October 10 speech.

It has become a standard response to all Taiwanese Presidential elections, speeches and international activities.

One such snap “war game” was held in May in what Beijing called “punishment” for the Taiwanese people electing Lai as President.

But China has followed a steady trend of escalation with these deployments. The forces now regularly involved are enough to immediately switch to a war footing and enforce a blockade on the island.

Last night, Taipei said the aircraft carrier PLAN Liaoning and its escort of cruisers, destroyers and frigates had approached the Bashi Channel to the island’s south.

This channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines, is one of just a few linking the South China Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

Meanwhile, Taipei is reporting “unusual activity” by Chinese Coast Guard vessels. It says several have been observed crossing into Taiwanese waters.

Taiwan’s defence ministry says it is “on alert”.

“The Taiwanese military is employing joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems to closely monitor related activities and remains on alert, prepared to respond as necessary,” it adds.

The Chinese Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan. Picture: Tingshu Wang – Pool/Getty Images
The Chinese Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan. Picture: Tingshu Wang – Pool/Getty Images

‘Increased pressure’

In his speech last week, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) President Lai reiterated that Taiwan no longer lays claim to mainland China. Beijing and Taipei were “not subordinate to each other”, he added.

The Chinese Communist Party has never ruled Taiwan.

It remained in the hands of the authoritarian Republic of China after a four-year civil war was fought to a standstill in 1949.

Taiwan’s new democratic government – initiated after the end of martial law in 1987 – also has never ruled mainland China.

Beijing, however, refuses to accept it failed to extend its “revolution” over Taiwan.

In the intervening decades, it has used diplomatic, military and economic intimidation to force Taiwan off the world stage as an independent nation. It blocks Taiwan’s attempts to participate in UN and international forums as a matter of course.

A Taiwanese air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet is seen on the tarmac of an air force base in Hsinchu on October 14, 2024. China deployed planes and ships to encircle Taiwan on October 14, in drills Beijing said were aimed at sending a ‘stern warning’ to ‘separatist’ forces on the self-ruled island. Picture: I-Hwa Cheng/AFP
A Taiwanese air force Mirage 2000 fighter jet is seen on the tarmac of an air force base in Hsinchu on October 14, 2024. China deployed planes and ships to encircle Taiwan on October 14, in drills Beijing said were aimed at sending a ‘stern warning’ to ‘separatist’ forces on the self-ruled island. Picture: I-Hwa Cheng/AFP

“China has significantly increased pressure on Taiwan in recent years,” a recent report from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) states.

“Its military ships and aircraft now operate around Taiwan on a near-daily basis, stoking fears that tensions could erupt into outright conflict.”

It says an unprecedented expansion of China’s (navy-controlled) Coast Guard may indicate an attempt to employ “grey zone” tactics – where it argues the legal right to police Taiwanese waters – may be its planned first step towards “quarantining” the island.

“Little attention has been paid to the possibility of such scenarios, but in the short term, a quarantine is more likely than an invasion or a military blockade,” its analysts argue.

“It also would generate greater uncertainty in terms of how Taiwan and the international community can effectively respond.”

Meanwhile, Beijing continues to beat its military war drums.

“The PLA will resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and is prepared to crush any separatist attempts,” Zhang told the Global Times.

“The DPP authorities’ attempt to seek independence through military build-up and soliciting foreign intervention will fail.”

Jamie Seidel is a freelance writer | @JamieSeidel

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Originally published as ‘Prepared for battle’: China’s chilling threat against Taiwan

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/technology/innovation/prepared-for-battle-chinas-chilling-threat-against-taiwan/news-story/19b681ff5fb4c76c90d2ac89b44316af