China escalated tensions with Taiwan by launching military exercises on Monday (October 14), deploying ships, planes and other military assets around the island. The move, known as “Operation Joint Sword 24B,” comes shortly after Taiwan’s National Day celebrations. The exercises involved China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) testing various strategic capabilities, including port blockades and assaults on sea and land targets near Taiwan.
The military action is seen as retaliation for remarks made on October 10 by Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, in which he reaffirmed Taiwan’s independence, declaring that “the People’s Republic of China has no right to representing Taiwan.” His remarks, made during the country’s National Day speech, also vowed to resist any attempts at annexation or encroachment on Taiwan’s sovereignty. The Chinese PLA’s Eastern Command issued a strong response, condemning the speech and presenting the exercises as a stern warning to the “separatist” activities of pro-independence forces in Taiwan.
In response, Taiwanese leaders condemned the exercises, urging China to stop its military provocations. Taiwan’s presidential office stressed that these actions threaten the stability of the region and undermine Taiwan’s democratic values.
This week’s military exercises follow a series of similar exercises held earlier in May, known as “Joint Sword-2024A”, which were conducted after President Lai took office and declared Taiwan as a sovereign nation. These actions reflect ongoing friction between Beijing and Taipei, with China repeatedly threatening military action if Taiwan formally declares independence.
Taiwan, a small but strategically important island, lies in the East China Sea, near Hong Kong and the Philippines. Its position is critical to regional trade routes, and any conflict in the Taiwan Strait could have significant repercussions throughout East and Southeast Asia. Academic Ngeow Chow Bing stressed that a military conflict involving Taiwan would seriously disrupt trade and escalate tensions in the South China Sea, posing risks to regional stability.
Relations between Taiwan and China remain a subject of international contention. Since the Chinese Civil War of 1949, the island has operated independently as the Republic of China (PRC), while the mainland is governed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Despite Taiwan’s de facto independence, China continues to emphasize the need to reunify it with the mainland. Global diplomatic relations favor China’s position, with most countries adhering to the one-China policy and only a handful officially recognizing Taiwan.
The historical roots of Taiwan’s independence date back to the fall of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, which led to the establishment of the Republic of China under the leadership of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. However, Taiwan’s modern status was consolidated after the KMT leadership relocated to the island in 1949, having lost the civil war to the Chinese Communist Party. Although the island introduced democratic reforms in the late 20th century, relations between China and Taiwan remained tense, with Beijing consistently rejecting Taiwan’s claims to sovereignty.
Despite attempts to foster better economic relations in the 1990s, notably through trade agreements, political tensions persist. China’s “One China, Two Systems” policy, touted as a potential solution to reunification, has been firmly rejected by Taiwan, particularly after political unrest in Hong Kong. The ongoing military exercises are another sign of the deep-rooted conflict between the two nations, where military force remains an ever-present threat.
