This is the 153rd issue of The Bay Area Watching the Strait
The eastern theater launched the "Joint Sword 2024A" exercise
In the morning of today (23rd), the eastern theater of the People's Liberation Army announced that from 7:45 on May 23rd, the eastern theater of the People's Liberation Army was located in the Taiwan Strait, and the northern, southern and eastern parts of Taiwan Island, as well as around Jinmen Island, Mazu Island, Wuqiu Island and Dongyin Island, to carry out joint exercises and training.
Lieutenant Colonel Li Xi, spokesman of the Eastern Theater of Operations, said that from May 23 to 24, the Eastern Theater of Operations organized troops from the army, navy, air force, rocket corps and other forces in the theater of operations to carry out the "Joint Sword 2024A" exercise around Bitai Island, focusing on exercises such as joint air and sea combat readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive control of the battlefield, joint precision targeting of key targets and other subjects, and warships and aircraft approaching the battle patrol around Taiwan Island, The island chain is integrated inside and outside to test the joint combat capability of the theater forces. The spokesman clearly pointed out that, This is also a strong punishment for the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces seeking "independence" and a serious warning of interference and provocation by external forces.
Later, the Eastern Theater of War released the sketch map of the exercise area and the combined poster "Cross the Sea Killer", which uses traditional characters.
The figure shows the exercise area in the eastern theater
Tong Zhen, a researcher of the Academy of Military Sciences, pointed out in an interview that from the exercise and training locations released by the Eastern Theater of War, this exercise and training operation presented an integrated design of the island and the outer island, "In the direction of outer islands, it covers Jinmen Island, Mazu Island, Wuqiu Island and Dongyin Island; in the direction of this island, it mainly adopts the island encirclement combat readiness patrol to effectively squeeze the so-called military defense space of Taiwan".
Shi Hong, a special commentator of the Direct News, said that from the code name "United Sword - 2024A", it can be seen that, first of all, this is a "joint" exercise with the participation of multiple services and arms of the Navy, Army, Air Force and Rocket Corps. The purpose is to let multiple services and arms work together to form a joint force, so as to maximize combat effectiveness. Joint operations are also the main mode of modern and future wars. Second, the word "sharp sword" is very straightforward. If the sharp sword is stabbed out, all ghosts and demons will be killed. Therefore, the "sharp sword" is a strong deterrent to the "Taiwan independence" force and the external interference force. Third, 2024 is followed by an "A", which is very interesting. This indicates that this year's "United Sword" exercise is likely to be a series, with B, C, or even D behind A, so that this year's "United Sword" exercise will form a series of exercises.
Taiwan media concern: how is this time different from 2022
In August 2022, Pelosi, the then speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, went to Taiwan. Then the PLA launched a military exercise in Taiwan, and the two sketches of the exercise area became one of the focuses of the Taiwan media. Taiwan's "Zhongshi News Network" pointed out that at that time, the PLA set up six areas around the Taiwan Sea to carry out a nine day live fire drill around Taiwan. That was the first time that the PLA appeared near the east coast of Taiwan Island. This exercise is closer to Taiwan Island than the 2022 exercise area, and the deployment is more comprehensive.
Li Guifa, retired lieutenant general of the Taiwan Air Force, said in an interview that the scope of this military exercise has expanded from last year to include Jinmen, Mazu and even the most north to east, which means that the entire Jinma and Taipei are included. This has two meanings: first, it echoes the punishment of the "Taiwan independence" forces, and includes all the Jinma and Taipei in the scope of the exercise, highlighting the positioning of the two sides as one China, In particular, the Dongyin is the northernmost area under the administration of the DPP authorities, and the PLA's special coverage of military exercises is of obvious significance; Second, the PLA's expansion of the scope of military exercises can further change the sea and air conditions in the Taiwan Strait. The PLA's air force can freely cross the strait airspace. At the same time, a large number of ships are patrolling, enforcing the law, and preparing for war in the Taiwan Strait, which means a strong sense of sovereignty declaration to the outside world.
Taiwan media compared this exercise with that two years ago, and the picture is shown on Taiwan's "Zhongshi News Network"
The Taiwan media quoted Jie Zhong, a deputy research institute of the Taiwan Policy Research Foundation, as saying that the contents of the exercises announced by the PLA's eastern theater of operations include such subjects as joint naval and air combat readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, joint precision targeting of key targets, and the scope of the exercise areas set up around Taiwan, It should be a practice for all services and arms to carry out "joint blockade operations" around Taiwan, so as to cut off Taiwan's air and sea ties with foreign countries, delay and prevent the mobilization of the main forces of the Taiwan air and sea forces, and undermine Taiwan's naval and air force battle force preservation plan. He analyzed that the exercise subjects might include "containment operations" on foreign and outlying islands, or even "inshore island assault operations", which were not exercised in the second military exercises around Taiwan in August 2022 and April 2023.
Jiezhong also mentioned that although the exercise time announced by the Eastern Warfare Zone was only on the 23rd and 24th, the name of the exercise was "United Sword - 2024A", which may represent the first in a "series of exercises". The mainland would not rule out that after this exercise, it would launch subsequent exercises depending on the reaction of all parties.
The picture is a screenshot of CCTV live broadcast
Taiwan's "United News Network" noted that the CCTV News had broadcast the military exercise live since the morning. Zhang Chi, a mainland military scholar, pointed out in the CCTV program that Taiwan was isolated from the sea and depended on imports of energy. Once it was besieged and blockaded, it would easily lead to economic collapse. This time, the PLA was a new model of blockading the island of Taiwan. Taiwan's "United News Network" cited Zhang Chi's point of view that the mainland has formed a new normal of "anti sausage" through a series of military operations. In recent years, the United States and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities have repeatedly hit the bottom line and red line of the mainland by "cutting sausages". Last year, after Tsai Ing wen's visit to the United States, the PLA carried out the patrol of the Taiwan Island War Preparedness Police and the "Joint Sword" exercise. After Lai Qingde's inaugural speech this time, the PLA again conducted the "Joint Sword" exercise. It can be seen that as long as the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces provoke once, the PLA will make progress, which is the new normal of "anti sausage".
Lai Qingde "stormed" Lan Ying
Xiao Xucen, CEO of the Ma Ying jeou Foundation, said today (23rd) that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) cannot "storm" politics every time for electoral interests, but leave the mess to Taiwanese. The DPP authorities' plan is to engage in political "violence", which will lead to a rebound or military exercises on the other side of the bank, and then to extort the opposition parties to condemn "anti land". But I'm sorry, Taiwanese are not fools. They can understand who is making trouble. They will not pay for the ruling party that is making trouble at home.
Lai Shibao, a member of the People's Representative of the Chinese National Party, said frankly that Lai Qingde obviously wanted to pursue "Taiwan independence" on the one hand, and on the other hand, he said he wanted to resume tourism and Lu Sheng. But the mainland was concerned about not pursuing "Taiwan independence". Lai Qingde was tough on the mainland, and the mainland was naturally tough. Lai Shibao said that Lai Qingde should show good intentions when he first took office. What everyone observed was when the ban on the regiment going to mainland would be lifted, and the effective date would be June 1. Lai Qingde should cancel the ban on the regiment on June 1 first.
Wang Hongwei, the representative of the People's Republic of China, said that Lai Qingde's inaugural speech did show a more "aggressive" and "independent" position than Cai Yingwen. The future cross-strait relations are not optimistic, but there should be a healthy space for dialogue between the two sides. The Kuomintang is also not happy with today's military exercise around Taiwan. The Democratic Progressive Party, including its flanks, will definitely bring out the old man who "fights against the land and protects Taiwan". However, the mainland is targeting Lai Qingde's inaugural speech. The Kuomintang still hopes for peace across the Taiwan Straits, without any danger of war.
Hong Mengkai, head of the party and league of the Taiwan legislature of the Chinese Kuomintang, said that no one in Taiwan's mainstream public opinion wants war and does not want the possibility of conflict to continue to increase. The Kuomintang demanded that the authorities should take responsibility and have reasonable communication channels across the Straits, so as to avoid the spiral of hostility between the two sides and increase the possibility of fire.
Guo Zhengliang, the former people's representative of Taiwan, believed that Lai Qingde's speech was not only a "confession of Taiwan independence", but also a "gamble". He believed that the current time was not conducive to "Taiwan independence", and that only Suoha and the mainland could have a "wager", which was extremely irresponsible for all Taiwan people.
Taiwan's Lianhe Daily commented that Lai Qingde set a record, and on the third day of his inauguration, the PLA had military exercises around the island. This record is unprecedented, and I'm afraid there will be no future. The commentary said that the main purpose of this military exercise was political. In addition to deterring Lai authorities who had just come to power, it was also dissatisfaction and anger with the United States to show the mainland. The commentary believes that the mainland is bound to still assess the damage area caused by Lai Qingde's speech, and will decide whether the interaction with the United States should increase or decrease. The Chinese mainland may choose to maintain the space for dialogue with the United States to maintain strategic initiative and flexibility, but I am afraid there is no redundant scope for interaction between the two sides. The mainland often says that "Taiwan independence" is incompatible with peace. Lai Qingde's cross-strait relations in the next four years may only be turbulent.
Author: Li Yi, chief writer of Shenzhen Satellite TV Direct News
