On 14 October, the China People’s Liberation Army (PLA) began a series of war games and blockade drills near Taiwan. A spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theatre Command, Captain Li Xi stated the exercises with the codename Joint Sword- 2024B were taking place in “areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan island.” Li also informed the drills focused on sea and air-combat readiness patrols, attacking targets on land and sea, a joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, and the capability to blockade key ports and other areas. The Eastern Theatre Command also stated that Chinese ships and aircraft were approaching Taiwan in close proximity from different directions. At the same time, the China Coast Guard (CCG) deployed its formations 2901, 1305, 1303, and 2102 to conduct law enforcement patrols around Taiwan. The CCG also informed the Fujian province coastguard would operate near the Dongyin and Matsu Islands, focusing on verification, boarding inspections, and control and expulsion drills. According to the CCG, the exercise aimed to test its rapid response and emergency handling capabilities.

Taiwan’s response
The Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan issued a strong condemnation of the military drills conducted by China. The Ministry referred to the drills as “irrational and provocative behaviour,” and stated it had dispatched appropriate forces to respond and take concrete actions to defend freedom, democracy, and Taiwanese sovereignty. The Ministry also noted that the address on Taiwanese National Day by the President of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te had shown his determination to maintain peace and stability, and cross-strait cooperation in the region. The ministry also informed it had dispatched its forces, in response to the provocations. The military drills by China were also condemned by the Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan, which referred to the exercises as an “open provocation” to peace and global democracies. The Council also stated the Chinese military exercises disregarded the goodwill shown by the Government of Taiwan; and was an attempt to destroy the existing status quo. The Council also affirmed confidence that Taiwan would not be bowed or submit to military threats by China.

Chinese, western, and regional media coverage
On 14 October, Xinhua, the flagship news agency of China reported the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had organized its army, navy, air force, and rocket force troops to conduct the “Joint Sword-2024B drills in the Taiwan Strait, and towards the north, south and east of Taiwan. A spokesperson for the Eastern Theatre, Li Xi informed the drills would test its joint real-combat capabilities with a focus on the seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, strikes on sea and land targets, blockades of key ports, and joint sea-air combat readiness patrols. On 14 October, Global Times reported that PLA drills near Taiwan were being conducted, to serve as a stern warning to the separatist acts of “Taiwan independence” forces. The Eastern Theatre Command spokesperson, Senior Captain Li Xi stated the drills were a legitimate and necessary operation to safeguard the sovereignty and national unity of China. A professor at the PLA National Defence University, Zhang Chi informed Global Times the new exercises were achieving breakthroughs by moving closer to the island of Taiwan. According to Zhang, the exercises significantly reduced the military and operational space for the Taiwan Armed Forces. He also stated it showed the joint operational capabilities of the PLA across multiple operational domains around Taiwan. An expert from the PLA Academy of Military Science, Wang Wenjuan informed Global Times the exercises showed the Government of the People’s Republic of China would take countermeasures the more Taiwan pushed for independence.

On 14 October, The Guardian reported the patrols and drills were described by China as “a practical action to control Taiwan Island by the law based on the one-China principle.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan urged the Chinese government to pull back from an escalation. Meanwhile, the Office of the President of Taiwan urged the Chinese government to accept the goodwill offered in the National Day speech by the President of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te.  A spokesperson for the US State Department, Matthew Miller stated the US government was monitoring the drills. Miller also urged China to behave with restraint and prevent actions that could undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the broader region. Military analysts have warned each new set of drills conducted by the Chinese PLA shows strategic improvements or an escalation, vis-à-vis its approach toward Taiwan.
 
On 14 October, The Korea Times reported the PLA had begun the drills as a warning towards Taiwanese separatist forces, with no end date given. The Eastern Theatre Command of the PLA published a map showing nine areas around Taiwan where the drills were taking place- two on the east coast, three on the west coast, one on the north, and three around Taiwanese-controlled islands next to the Chinese coast. However, the PLA did not announce any live-fire exercises or no-fly areas over Taiwan.  The Mainland Affairs Council of Taiwan condemned the exercises and promised Taiwan would not back down. An anonymous security official from Taiwan stated the Taiwanese government believed the Chinese government was practicing the blockade of Taiwanese ports in the northern and southern parts of Taiwan and international shipping lanes. Meanwhile, the Chinese state media condemned the National Day speech by the Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te advocating for cooperation with China. Before the exercises, the Eastern Theatre Command of the PLA had released a video stating it was “prepared for battle.”
 
On 14 October, Japan Today reported the Chinese military drills were the fourth round of large-scale war games conducted against Taiwan in the past two years. The new military exercises were after the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken warned the Chinese government over taking actions against Taiwan. The military exercises by China were viewed as a potential reaction to the Taiwanese National Day speech by Taiwanese President, Lai Ching-te defending Taiwanese sovereignty. The Chinese government regards Lai as a separatist opposed to Taiwanese sovereignty. It also criticized his speech as a provocation that would result in disaster for the Taiwanese citizens. The Chinese state broadcaster CCTV released a video warning that “ the greater the provocation, the tighter the reins.”
 
On 14 October, The Straits Times reported the military exercises by China had resulted in anger and condemnation from Taiwan. The Secretary-General of the National Security Council of Taiwan, Joseph Wu stated the Chinese government had ignored the message of goodwill and peace promoted by the Taiwanese president in his National Day speech. Wu also stated the Chinese usage of military force to threaten other countries went against the United Nations charter to peacefully resolve disputes. The Eastern Theatre Command of the PLA also released a video showing Taiwanese President Lai in a cartoon and fighter jets around Taiwan, before ending with the image of a sword pointed at Taiwan. The Office of the President of Taiwan stated the Chinese government needed to refrain from actions that threatened the democratic freedoms of Taiwan. Meanwhile, the Liberation Army Daily newspaper of the PLA wrote actions by the PLA to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Taiwan would continue until the Taiwan independence provocations did not stop.

References
“China starts a new round of war games near Taiwan,” Al Jazeera, 14 October 2024
Wendy Wu, Jun Mai, Amber Wang, Enoch Wong, and Lawrence Chung, “PLA launches blockade drills around Taiwan with carrier Liaoning in the east,” South China Morning Post, 14 October 2024
“China Coast Guard patrols around Taiwan island,” Global Times, 14 October 2024
“MND condemns China’s military drills around the nation,” Taipei Times, 14 October 2024
“Chinese PLA conducts “Joint Sword-2024B” drills surrounding Taiwan island,” Xinhua, 14 October 2024
“Update: PLA conducts joint drill surrounding Taiwan island to send a stern warning to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists,” Global Times, 14 October 2024
Helen Davidson and Chi-hui Lin, “China launches large-scale military drills around Taiwan after President Lai’s National Day speech,” The Guardian, 14 October 2024
“China starts a new round of war games near Taiwan, offers no end date,” The Korea Times, 14 October 2024
Amber Wang and Sam Davies, “China says it has launched military drills around Taiwan,” Japan Today, 14 October 2024
“China launches war games around Taiwan, drawing anger in Taipei, concern from Washington,” The Straits Times, 14 October 2024