China's Taiwan Affairs Office Spokeswoman: People's Liberation Army (PLA) Drills Around Taiwan To Continue Until Provocations Stop

Taiwan reported that the CCP renewed its military activity near the island. Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said that "as long as the 'Taiwan independence' provocations continue, the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) actions to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity will not stop."

Following the inaugural speech of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, in which Taiwan's sovereignty was stressed, the PLA launched in the morning of May 23, 2024, a two-day military exercise code-named Joint Sword-2024A, surrounding the island of Taiwan (to the north, south and east of Taiwan, as well as areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, which are located in the Taiwan Strait) in a move aiming to "punish" "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces.[1] Yet, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense has been detected PLA activities around Taiwan even after the end of the drills.

It is worth noting that, on May 24, on the same day as the Sword-2024A drills, the Philippines said that the "world's largest coast guard vessel" belonging to China entered the West Philippine Sea near Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal in a move "to assert dominance" and "expand its de facto occupation" there.[2]

Taiwan Detects PLA Activities After Joint Sword-2024A Drills

On May 29, 2024, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense wrote on its Twitter account: "Overall, 28 PLA aircraft (including SU-30, Y-8, UAVs, etc.) were detected from 1520hr today. Out of which, 18 crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered the north, central, and southwest parts of Taiwan's ADIZ in conducting joint combat patrol along with PLAN vessels."[3]

Few hours earlier, on May 29, it wrote: "13 #PLA aircraft, 5 PLAN vessels, and 4 CCG vessels operating around #Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. today. 3 of the aircraft crossed the median line of #Taiwan Strait entered Taiwan's SW and SE ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."[4]

On May 28, 2024, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense wrote on its Twitter account: "3 PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels, and 4 CCG vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 3 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered our southwestern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."[5]

On May 27, 2024, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense wrote on its Twitter account: "21 PLA aircraft, 11 PLAN vessels, and 4 CCG vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 10 of the aircraft entered Taiwan's southwestern and southeastern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."[6]

On May 26, 2024, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense wrote on its Twitter account: "7 PLA aircraft, 14 PLAN vessels, and 4 CCG vessels operating around #Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."[7]

On May 25, 2024, Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense wrote on its Twitter account: "62 PLA aircraft and 27 PLAN vessels operating around #Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. today. 47 of the aircraft crossed the median line of #Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's SW, SE, and eastern ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and responded accordingly."

China FM Spokesperson: "Anyone Who Seeks To Challenge The One-China Principle Will Invariably Fail"

During the daily press conference on May 28, 2024, China Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stressed once again that the CCP drills around the Taiwan island are a "resolute punitive response to the provocation for 'Taiwan independence' made by the leader of the Taiwan region in his May 20 speech"[8] and "a serious warning to external forces that connive at and support 'Taiwan independence' and interfere in China's internal affairs."[9]

Phoenix TV: "It's reported that the spokesperson of the US State Department issued a statement last weekend and expressed 'concern over the People's Liberation Army joint military drills around Taiwan.' What's your comment?"

Mao Ning: "The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair that brooks no external interference. The US has no right to make irresponsible remarks on it. Our joint drills around the Taiwan island are a resolute punitive response to the provocation for 'Taiwan independence' made by the leader of the Taiwan region in his May 20 speech and a serious warning to external forces that connive at and support 'Taiwan independence' and interfere in China's internal affairs. It is a just move to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and is necessary, legitimate and fully consistent with international law and common practices.

"After coming into office, the Taiwan region's leader did not even wait before laying bare his true identity as a separatist for 'Taiwan independence.' His speech on May 20 is a declaration of his agenda for 'Taiwan independence,' which fully reveals his nature as a 'worker for Taiwanese independence.' What has happened shows once again that the most dangerous change to the cross-Strait status quo and the biggest source of damage to cross-Strait peace are the separatist moves for 'Taiwan independence' and connivance and support from US-led external forces.

"In disregard of China's firm opposition, the US is the one that acted wrongly first by sending a delegation and issuing a congratulatory statement by the Secretary of State on the so-called 'inauguration ceremony,' which sent a seriously wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces. The groundless accusation the US then made against China's lawful and legitimate steps to uphold national sovereignty and territorial integrity just compounded its mistake. We urge the US to fully recognize the fundamental nature and dangerous ambition of 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces, and the grave harm and enormous risks of 'Taiwan independence' separatism to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and to China-US relations, earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, honor the commitment made by US leaders on the Taiwan question and stop emboldening and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist forces in any form.

"Our resolve to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity will not waver. Our determination to oppose external interference in China's internal affairs will not change. 'Taiwan independence' will lead nowhere and anyone who plays with fire by supporting 'Taiwan independence' will get burned. Anyone who seeks to challenge the one-China principle will invariably fail."