Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Mouthpiece Global Times: CCP Drills Around Taiwan Are 'A New Normal' Of 'Anti-Salami-Slicing' Against 'Provocations' By The 'Taiwan Independence Secessionist Forces'

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) mouthpiece Global Times wrote that the recent Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) drills around Taiwan are a "new normal" of "anti-salami-slicing" against "provocations" by the "Taiwan independence secessionist forces."[1]

Following the inaugural speech of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, in which Taiwan's sovereignty was asserted, the PLA launched in the morning of May 23, 2024, a two-day massive 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), simulating an attack on the island with Naval warships, fighter jets bombers, helicopters, and rocket launch systems.[2]

Wu Qian, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defense, mentioned that the PLA Eastern Theater Command organized its army, naval, air force and rocket force to test the troops' combat capability in joint operations, in order to test the PLA's military readiness.[3]

As China is pushing the boundaries to see how far it can go without repercussions, Beijing announced that, if "Taiwan independence secessionist forces insist on making provocations," the large-scale drill Joint Sword-2024A, which encircled Taiwan even tighter than previous August 2022 exercises (after then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei),[4] will be followed by drills such as Joint Sword-2024B, C and D. The Global Times also mentioned that the PLA has practiced "a new model of blockading" Taiwan, noting that since Taiwan is "an isolated island that relies heavily on energy imports, if it is blockaded, it will very easily suffer an economic collapse."[5]

Compared to the 2022 previous drills, the Joint Sword-2024A covered wider regions, including outlying islands such as Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, which Taiwan's military views them as the "front line in their defense operations" and a "crucial point for implementing 'multiple layers of deterrence."[6] At the same time, the drill's encirclement on the main island of Taiwan became tighter, with the goal of normalizing the PLA's presence in the area in case of an actual invasion of the island.

Commenting about Beijing's Gray Zone Tactics,[7] independent researcher Sze-Fung Lee wrote: "China is attempting to steer public opinion into its favored direction by framing the People's Liberation Army's provocative actions as a 'punishment' against Taiwan's 'separatist act' while actively contesting Taipei's ability to exercise its sovereignty, jurisdictional, and law enforcement rights at a near-threshold of military confrontation. In essence, Beijing's disinformation and influence operation intertwined with gray zone tactics, as well as legal, and cognitive warfare – under its hybrid warfare strategy – seek to challenge the current status quo in the Taiwan Strait and actively redefine what constitutes unacceptable behaviors in the 21st century international rules-based order."[8]

It is worth noting that, recently, Taiwanese and Japanese media have been quoting an early draft of the Japanese Ministry of Defense's annual report, stating that the military balance in the Taiwan Strait is tilting in favor of China. The document also stressed that a conflict similar to the Russian invasion of Ukraine could occur near Japan. According to Taipei Times, the document stressed that, "in the past few years, the PLA has been rapidly building its military superiority over Taiwan, although the latter made an effort to bolster its defenses after Russia invaded Ukraine." The document further mentioned that China has been increasing its military activity around Taiwan with the aim of normalizing it and improving its combat capabilities. The draft said also that Beijing's strategic alliance with Moscow was "cause for severe concern" regarding security and defense for Japan.[9]

Recently, the Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said that China and Russia will work together "to implement the Global Security Initiative and jointly defend international fairness and justice." "We will make new contributions to maintaining international and regional security and stability and to building a community with a shared future for mankind," Wu Qian stated.[10]

In gray, the 2022 drills and in red the Joint Sword 2024 A drills. the drill's encirclement on the main island of Taiwan became tighter, with the goal of normalizing the PLA's presence in the area in case of an actual invasion of the island. (Source: Global Times)

The map shows PLA vessels moving toward Taiwan from all sides, as part of the Joint Sword-2024A drill. (Source: PLA Eastern Theater Command)

Locations of Chinese military aircraft and vessels during the drills on May 23, 2024 (Source: CNA)

PLA's six key words: 進 (advance), 圍 (surround/besiege), 鎖 (lock down), 擊 (attack), 毀 (destroy), 斷 (cut off). The PLA tries to cut off access to Taiwan both by sea and air. The map shows that the PLA tried to squeeze the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin, which are located in the Taiwan Strait (closer to China) and put pressure on military centers on the eastern side of the island, like the Hualien air base. (Source: X)

Chinese PLA Navy warships have been deployed off the coast of Eastern Taiwan, only 16 nautical miles away from Hualien, where is located Taiwan's key air base. (Source: X)

China PLA Eastern Theater Command Exercise Joint Sword-2024A. Two-day exercises are testing capability of joint seizure of power (联合夺权), joint strikes (联合打击) and control of key territories (要域占控).

China PLA Eastern Theater Command Exercise Joint Sword-2024A.

China PLA Eastern Theater Command Exercise Joint Sword-2024A.

China PLA Eastern Theater Command Exercise Joint Sword-2024A

Gan Yu, spokesperson for the China Coast Guard, said that, on May 24, the Coast Guard 2304 fleet conducted a "comprehensive law enforcement exercise" in the waters east of Taiwan. (Source: Mod.gov.cn/gfbw/qwfb/16310953.html)

(Source: Xinhuanet)

PLA Eastern Theater Command's Joint Sword-2024A posters, mentioning "cross-strait lethality." The posters show: J-20 stealth fighter, J-16 fighter, Type 052D destroyer, Type 071 amphibious warfare ship, short-range ballistic missile, PHL-16 rocket artillery systems. (Source: Mgronline.com)