China Conducts Military Drills Near Taiwan

Facts

• On Saturday, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army launched military exercises in the waters and airspace around Taiwan reportedly to test its forces' capability in coordinated operations.¹
• The military drills reportedly used missile-equipped vessels and fighter jets to simulate the surrounding of the island and deliver 'a stern warning to the collusion of 'Taiwan independence' separatists with foreign elements and their provocations.'²
• Taiwan's Ministry of Defense claimed 42 Chinese warplanes flew over its air defense zone and 26 aircraft crossed the median line on the Taiwan Strait, alleging that Beijing was attempting to influence Taiwan's upcoming election.³
• Terming the military exercises as 'irrational and provocative moves,' the self-ruled island activated land-based missile systems and deployed aircraft and vessels to show readiness 'to safeguard national security.'⁴
• The news comes as Taiwan's Vice President and leading presidential candidate William Lai returned to Taipei on Friday from a six-day trip to Paraguay that included two stopovers in the US — which the PRC criticized.⁵
• The US doesn't recognize Taiwan as an independent state but objects to any forcible change in the status quo. On Saturday, the State Department urged Beijing 'to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan.'⁶

Sources: ¹Xinhua, ²Al Jazeera, ³BBC News, ⁴USA Today, ⁵Reuters and ⁶South china morning post.

Narratives

• Pro-China narrative, as provided by Global times. Following Lai's provocative US transit, Beijing had no other option but to hold these joint military exercises around the island as a sharp countermeasure to punish secessionist forces and to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. While it's in the PRC's best interest to peacefully reunite Taiwan with the mainland, Lai's provocations and conspiracy with foreign powers can't be tolerated.
• Anti-China narrative, as provided by CNN. While Beijing may see Taiwanese leaders visiting the US as a threat to its claims over the island that it has never been ruled, Chinese warplanes have encroached on Taiwan's air defense zone nearly daily for months. Lai's US trips are just an excuse — China will use every pretext to undermine regional security and continuously oppress its peaceful neighbors.

Predictions