Over the weekend, China's military conducted joint air and sea patrols near Taiwan, coinciding with the conclusion of a significant summit at Camp David attended by leaders from the United States, South Korea, and Japan.
The purpose of these patrols and exercises, as stated by Shi Yi, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command, is to enhance the coordination between military aircraft and vessels, as well as their capability to establish control over air and sea territories, as reported by the state news agency Xinhua.
Shi mentioned that the exercises would assess the armed forces' capability to engage in genuine combat scenarios.
Shi further stated, "The patrols and exercises function as a strong caution against the collaboration between advocates of 'Taiwan independence' and foreign actors, as well as their provocative actions."
China's governing Communist Party asserts sovereignty over the self-governing and democratic Taiwan, although it has never governed the island. The Party remains committed to assuming authority over the island, even if it requires the use of force.
These patrols follow a week after China's foreign minister criticized Taiwan's vice president and presidential candidate, William Lai, during his layover in the United States on his way to Paraguay – Taiwan's sole diplomatic partner in South America.
China's foreign ministry labeled Lai as a "persistent source of trouble" due to his brief stopover in the US.
China's patrols coincide with escalated tensions between the United States and China. US President Joe Biden has been hosting the leaders of Japan and South Korea in a trilateral summit that is driven by the shared apprehension about China.
Taiwan's defense ministry vehemently criticized China's military maneuvers near the island, stating on Saturday that Beijing's actions constituted "unreasonable and provocative conduct." The ministry affirmed its intention to deploy suitable forces to address the situation.
"The initiation of a military exercise based on such a pretext not only fails to contribute to the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait but also underscores China's aggressive mindset and reaffirms its authoritative stance towards military expansion," the ministry stated.
On Tuesday, Li Shangfu, the defense minister who has been subjected to US sanctions, cautioned against "toying with danger" in relation to Taiwan, indirectly alluding to the United States, during his address at a security conference in Russia.
Although the United States lacks official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, it stands as one of the island's most robust global supporters, offering substantial assistance in bolstering its defense capabilities via weaponry provisions.
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