PLA drills demonstrate resolve to defend territorial integrity: military experts

The joint military drills surrounding Taiwan Island conducted by Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is unprecedented in adopting a new mode to send a clear warning to the separatist forces pursuing "Taiwan independence", demonstrating the resolve to defend China's territorial integrity, according to Chinese military experts.

The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA on Friday continued joint drills surrounding the Taiwan Island.

Integrated operations inside and outside the island chain have been conducted to test the command's capabilities to jointly take control of battlefield and launch joint strikes, and to seize control of crucial areas, according to a spokesperson for the theater command.

The spokesperson said the drills serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of "Taiwan independence" forces and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces.

Major General Meng Xiangqing, a professor at the National Defense University of the PLA, said from the PLA's close-in move, the military drills are unprecedented, just a step away from the coastline of the island of Taiwan.

Meng said that the PLA's drills focused on practicing a new mode of blockading the Taiwan Island.

"Taiwan is an isolated island in the sea. Its economy is export-oriented. A blockade of the island can easily lead to its economic collapse, turning it into a dead island. The PLA's joint drills this time is forming strong firing points by connecting all those key targets to the north, south and east of the island, just as we see in the map. The only thing required to form a firing line is a 'rope' or 'chain', and this 'chain' can put the 'Taiwan independence' forces in a chokehold. In other words, the more attempts and provocations the separatist forces in Taiwan make, the tighter the 'rope' will be," said Meng.

Zhang Chi, a mainland military expert, also noted that the drills to the north of the island deter important political and military targets, and the drills to the south of the island targeting Taiwan's important base for the island's naval force are crucial for the blockade. Meanwhile, drills to the east of Taiwan are designed to practice cutting off the island's energy imports, the escape routes of the "Taiwan independence" forces and the support line from the external forces, he said.

The PLA Eastern Theater Command started joint military drills surrounding Taiwan from 07:45 Thursday.

Military services including the army, navy, air force and rocket force of the theater command have been organized to conduct the joint drills, code-named Joint Sword-2024A, according to the spokesperson for the theater command.

The drills focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets.

Since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities came to power in 2016, the PLA has conducted multiple drills around the island to deter secessionists. Some experts from the island pointed out that the mainland's military deterrence will continue to proceed following every rampant provocation by the DPP authorities.

In August 2022, the DPP authorities colluded with then U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her visiting Taiwan. The PLA's following military drills in waters off the Taiwan Island were reported as crossing the so-called "median line of the Taiwan Strait". Meng's remarks that there is no such thing as a "median line in the Strait" became a hot topic of Taiwan's media.

In April 2023, in response to Tsai Ing-wen's "transit" trip to the United States, the PLA conducted military drills and sent aircraft carrier Shandong. The island's public attention was highly focused on the Shandong's appearance off Taiwan's east coast. Experts on the island held the view that the Shandong's sailing through the waters near Miyako Island and crossing the "First Island Chain" indicated that the so called "rear area" that the DPP had always boasted no longer exists.

The joint military drills this time are meant to deter Taiwan separatist forces pursuing "Taiwan independence", and counter the "two-states" fallacy made by Taiwan region new leader Lai Ching-te during his inauguration speech on Monday.

When the joint military drills conducted this time, a coast guard fleet of east China's Fujian Province on Thursday also conducted a law-enforcement drill in the waters near Wuqiu and Dongyin islands. According to the released map, the fleet formation was only 2.8 nautical miles away from Wuqiu Island and only 3.1 nautical miles away from Dongyin Island, sailing into the so-called "forbidden and restricted waters" set by the DPP authorities.

Liu Kuangyu, an associate research fellow at the Institute of Taiwan Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that the PLA's drill mode adopted after Pelosi's Taiwan visit is still improving and gets strengthened, and the drills of this mode aimed at surrounding and blockading the island will become a new normal.

PLA drills demonstrate resolve to defend territorial integrity: military experts

On his second official visit to China, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai expressed admiration for China's remarkable ability to balance preserving its cultural heritage with embracing innovative transformation.

Salwai paid an official visit to China from July 7 to 12. During his trip, he toured the southern province of Guangdong and explored the megacities of Beijing and Shanghai. His visit included tours of high-tech companies, a ride on a high-speed train, and a performance of traditional Cantonese opera.

In an interview with China Central Television Network (CCTV) aired on Friday, Salwai recounted his journey starting with a warm welcome that included enjoying Beijing Roast Duck, also known as Peking Duck -- a culinary delight introduced to him by the Chinese ambassador in Vanuatu.

"Many had to say. Peking Duck. Because we had it here on our arrival, so it was very tasty. And I understand that the Chinese ambassador in Vanuatu brought us to one of the traditional restaurants, small but beautiful," he said. The prime minister sees China's preservation of its culture as a vital lesson in understanding one's roots and the journey to the present day, acknowledging China's efforts to integrate cultural preservation with modernization.

"It's going to be my second official visit to China. I'm always impressed to see big changes and especially innovations made by China and especially the cities. Because a big impression is to see how China continues to maintain and keep its culture. Because I think it's the basis of everything -- to know where you come from and to understand where we are today. I feel that China is doing a lot to maintain its culture, but at the same time, doing, innovating to transform its culture,” Salwai said.

He also emphasized the importance of learning from China's sustainable development strategies.

"Today, it comes from a long way, some hardship, the government, and also the people of China. So, I'm impressed to see what is done, especially how China associates infrastructure development with nature. That's meant to keep, continue to keep the environment. It takes effort with the climate change by maintaining the ecosystem. I think it's something that, for a small country like Vanuatu, is important to learn. So, we are here. I'm here with my delegation to learn," Salwai said.

Vanuatu's PM commends China's cultural preservation, innovation amid fast growth