BEIJING: China has announced the conclusion of two days of military exercises around Taiwan, state media reported on Saturday. The military drills were launched three days following Taiwan President Lai Ching-te took office.
Taiwan’s defence ministry claimed that a total of 111 Chinese aircraft and dozens of naval ships took part in the drills surrounding the island. According to Chinese official media, the Chinese army had “successfully completed” exercise, named “Joint Sword-2024A”.
Li Xi, spokesman for the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command said that the military drills were aimed at testing the capability of joint seizure of power, joint strikes and control of key areas.
The United States (US), Taiwan’s major ally and military backer, on Thursday “strongly” urged Beijing to act with restraint. The development takes place as the Pentagon announced that Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin would hold a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun at the end of the month at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual gathering of defence ministers across the world.
