Prepping for War

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) initiated a significant event, Operation Joint Sword-2024A, two Thursdays ago. 

 

It involved the creation of a simulated blockade around the self-governing island of Taiwan, as well as areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin. 

 

It’s worth noting that this is the largest military drill of its kind in a year and follows the recent inauguration of rabble-rousing Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te (right) who has made it abundantly clear that he will escalate the issue of formal independence. 

 

During his address, Lai broke his promise of maintaining the status quo with the mainland. As Kathrine Hille, writing for the Financial Times, noted, he “used conspicuously different language, while also spelling out some of the facts that most jar Beijing” .

 

While Tsai Ing-wen, Lai’s predecessor, would reference “the Beijing authorities” or “the other side of the Strait”, which do not explicitly state that China and Taiwan are separate entities, the new leader mentioned “China” throughout his address. 

 

He referred to “Taiwan” and “the Republic of China, Taiwan,” saying that “some call this land the Republic of China, some call it the Republic of China Taiwan, and some, Taiwan; but whichever of these names we ourselves or our international friends choose to call our nation, we will resonate and shine all the same”. 

 

Referring to Taiwan as a “nation”, Lai quoted the Republic of China’s constitution – the state that lost control of the mainland to Communist forces during the Chinese Civil War in 1949 but still remains in Taiwan – to say that “the Republic of China Taiwan is a sovereign, independent nation in which sovereignty lies in the hands of the people” (of ROC nationality). “This tells us clearly: the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China are not subordinate to each other”, he concluded.

 

Lai is poking the Chinese dragon. For how long more will Xi Jinping tolerate this independence nonsense before he lets loose the PLA to bring rebel Taiwan to heel? After all, we all know the US has targeted Taiwan to be the next Ukraine!

 

In fact, the US chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael McCaul, on Monday, promised Taiwan better weapons than Ukraine! 

 

And today, China's defence minister Dong Jun warned that Beijing is ready to "forcefully" stop Taiwan independence. 

 

China should know that words won't deter the US nor Taiwan's Lai Ching-te who Beijing has described as a "dangerous separatist". Methinks, war is inevitable.