BEIJING: The “Justice Mission 2025” joint military drills continued into the second day on Tuesday. On Tuesday the PLA Eastern Theater Command deployed destroyers, frigates, fighters and bombers to conduct drills on subjects of identification and verification, warning and expulsion, simulated strikes, assault on maritime targets, as well as anti-air and anti-submarine operations in the waters to the north and south of Taiwan island. The drills tested the capabilities of sea-air coordination and integrated blockade and control, according to a statement released by the Eastern Theater Command.
According to Li Xi, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, at 9 am, the ground forces of the PLA Eastern Theater Command conducted long-range live fire drills in the waters to the north of Taiwan island. And at 1 pm the ground forces of the PLA Eastern Theater Command organized live fire training, while conducting simulated long-range joint strike with units of the Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force in the waters to the south of the Taiwan Island. Both drills achieved desired effects.
In response to media inquiries over the US leader’s claim that the drills do not worry him, seeing them as continuation of China’s previous military exercises, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday that “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The military drills by the PLA are a punitive and deterrent action against separatist forces who seek ‘Taiwan independence’ through military buildup, and a necessary move to safeguard China’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” A video released by the PLA Eastern Theater Command showed that long-range modularized rocket systems conducted live-fire shooting exercises in the morning. All rockets hit their targets, according to the video.
In the afternoon at around 3:30 pm, the PLA Eastern Theater Command announced that it had dispatched task forces comprised of amphibious assault ships, destroyers, frigates and unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct drills in the waters to the east of Taiwan island, focusing on subjects of all-dimensional force projection, breaching and raid by elite forces, as well as seizure of key ports.
The drills tested capabilities of task force coordination, systemic operations and precision strikes on key targets.
National Defense University professor Zhang Chi told the Global Times on Tuesday that the biggest feature of this exercise is the integrated linkage between inner and outer lines, with forces and firepower maximizing distant control over the enemy.
He said that in terms of timing, this exercise combines blockaded drills and strikes. The exercises on Monday focused mainly on blockading, emphasizing the shaping of a joint encirclement of the island and multidimensional isolation. Participating troops practiced approaching Taiwan island from multiple directions and seizing control of sea and air dominance in key areas. The exercises on Tuesday focused mainly on strikes, emphasizing live-fire attacks to reinforce the blockade, which is the centerpiece of the exercises.
In terms of spatial arrangement, this exercise integrates inner and outer operations, with three orientations worth noting. First is nearshore. China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels conducted comprehensive law enforcement patrols in waters near Matsu and Wuqiu islands. Second is Taiwan island. Participating troops continued to press in and blockade Taiwan island, particularly overseeing and deterring key passages and areas around it. Third is east of Taiwan island. Participating troops conducted exercises in sea and air spaces east of Taiwan island on subjects such as strikes against maritime targets, regional air superiority, submarine search and anti-submarine operations. Bomber formations coordinated with amphibious assault ship formations in ship-aircraft synergy, conducting exercises on strikes against sea targets and long-range raids, Zhang noted. –The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
