RITCHIE B. TONGO/EPA
A Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter approaches for landing at an air base in Hsinchu, Taiwan
“Mission Justice 2025”. China simulated attacks, port blockades, anti-submarine operations and exercises to achieve “regional air superiority”. And “it can turn the exercises into war at any time.”
On the second day of Chinese military exercises’Justice Mission-2025‘, launched the day before as a form of “warning” against what Beijing considers to be “external interference” in the Taiwan issue, the island’s leader, William Lai Ching-te, assured that the Taiwanese Armed Forces will act “responsibly” in the face of the military exercises launched by China, appealing for the population’s serenity.
During the first day of the maneuvers, the People’s Liberation Army simulated attacks on sea and land targets, blockade of ports and key areas, anti-submarine operations and exercises to achieve “regional air superiority”involving bombers, fighters, destroyers, frigates and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).
According to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MDN), between 06:00 on Monday (22:00 on Sunday, in Lisbon) and 06:00 this Tuesday (22:00 on Monday, in Lisbon), 130 Chinese military aircraft in the vicinity of the territory – the second highest daily number recorded to date.
The MDN also confirmed that the Chinese Army carried out shooting with real ammunitionstarting at 09:00 today (01:00, in Lisbon), against a delimited area in the north of the island, with projectiles launched by long-range artillery units from Fujian province.
“We will act responsibly, without escalating the conflict or provoking clashes,” declared Lai on the social network Facebook. “Right now, the union between civilians and military and resistance to disinformation they are the most powerful force to protect our democratic home,” he added.
Dubbed an independentist and provocateur by Beijing, Lai urged the Taiwanese to support the “heroes on the front line” and defend the sovereignty and freedom of the island, self-governed since 1949 and claimed by China as part of its territory.
The leader also highlighted that maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region is an “aspiration shared by the international community” and a “firm commitment of Taiwan as a responsible member of the region”.
“The Chinese Communist Party has repeatedly intensified military pressure, behavior that is far from what is expected from a responsible great power,” he stated, ensuring that the Taiwan Government and Armed Forces are closely monitoring the evolution of the situation and prepared to respond to any eventuality.
“Faced with intrusions and cognitive manipulations, our national security system is coordinated and guarantees the country’s security in real time”, he assured.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo Li-hsiung followed the Chinese exercises at the Joint Operations Command Center, overseeing the readiness of reconnaissance, air defense units and associated forces. Wellington Koo also accused Beijing of “ignoring international norms” and resorting to “military intimidation”considering the maneuvers a threat to regional stability and the security of commercial and air routes.
One of the main justifications given for carrying out the Justice 2025 Mission is the “recent and frequent conspiracy between the USA and Taiwan”, points out Fu Zhengnan, from the Academy of Military Sciences of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) on a channel associated with the South China Morning Post. Taiwan is seen as Xi Jinping’s and US support for the island is a threat in China’s eyes.
“The PLA has many strategic options to punish the independence forces in Taiwan and to deter the US,” says Meng Xiangqing, a national security expert at the PLA’s National Defense University, according to the SCMP. “AND can turn exercises into war at any time.”
