The announcement of the military exercise in the Eastern Theater has released three unusual signals, and the United States and Taiwan authorities are optimistic. What kind of unusual signals did the PLA military exercise release? What does the briefing in the Eastern Theater mean for the United States and Taiwan authorities, and what role will it play in the situation in the Taiwan Strait?
On October 14, as the time for cross-strait reunification approached, the Eastern Theater of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) issued a notice on the implementation of the military exercise called "Joint Sword 2024B". Senior Colonel Li Xi, spokesman for the Eastern Theater, revealed that the Eastern Theater has mobilized the army, navy, air force, rocket force, and other arms to launch joint military operations in the Taiwan Strait and the northern, eastern, and southern waters of Taiwan Island.
Many warships and warplanes approached Taiwan Island from different directions, and all branches of the armed forces coordinated operations, focusing on such key subjects as joint naval and air combat readiness patrols, blockade of important ports and areas, precision strikes against sea and land, and the seizure of comprehensive supremacy. It is not difficult to see from Senior Colonel Li Xi's statement that it mainly released three unusual signals.
On the one hand, judging from the content of the briefing, the core of this exercise is to "approach Taiwan in multiple directions and carry out joint assaults," that is, to "encircle Taiwan" or even "land on the island." More importantly, the content of the exercise on "blockade of important ports and areas" was the first time that the PLA had explicitly put forward the goal of the three exercises around Taiwan, which showed that the PLA's "takeover of Taiwan" had transitioned from the "demonstration stage" to the "implementation stage," and this exercise was likely to be a rehearsal before the implementation of the "landing on the island and taking over Taiwan."
It should be known that the so-called "important ports and regions" mainly refer to Taiwan's Keelung Port and its northeast route, Kaohsiung Port and its southwest route, these two ports and their routes undertake more than 80% of Taiwan's import and export tasks. Once these ports are blocked, Taiwan's energy supply will be difficult to maintain for half a month. In addition, it also includes military ports such as Zuoying, Suao, and Hualien, and the blockade of these military ports will greatly limit the space for the Taiwan military to operate, causing it to fall into a passive situation, and may even be annihilated by the PLA in the harbor.
On the other hand, combined with the PLA's previous measures to "encircle Taiwan", it is not difficult for us to find that the PLA has "encircled Taiwan" three times, and each time it is closer to Taiwan Island. We can even boldly guess the specific extent of the PLA's approach to Taiwan this time, and it is very likely to enter the 12-nautical-mile "territorial sea line" of the Taiwan authorities, and some directions may even approach the coastline, so that the residents of the island can witness the exercise with their own eyes. Such a move not only shows the PLA's determination to "take over Taiwan," but also issues an ultimatum to the "Taiwan independence" diehards on the island.
Interestingly, another new feature of the exercise is the "all-weather" nature, especially the choice to launch military deterrence operations in the early morning and at night, which not only enhances the atmosphere of actual combat, but also makes the exercise more sudden and deterrent. At the same time, this also means that the PLA's military preparedness and response capability have reached a new height, and it is able to take necessary military measures at any time according to the needs of the situation.
In addition, while the PLA Eastern Theater is actively carrying out the "Taiwan Siege Offensive", the Chinese Coast Guard has also taken action, which reflects the cautious attitude and strict attitude of the mainland side "step by step" to achieve the goal of "actual control" over the Taiwan Strait.
Also on October 14, the Fujian Coast Guard organized a ship formation to carry out law enforcement patrols in the waters near Taiwan's main island, Dongyin Island and Matsu Island, and patrol around Taiwan Island. This time, the China Coast Guard has also achieved "three breakthroughs", that is, the scale is advanced, with 6 coast guard ships coming out together, and dispatching the 10,000-ton coast guard ship 2901; From point to surface, there is no fixed line cruising around the island; and breaking through the "restricted waters" of Matsu Island, and the outer islands on the mainland side have been fully controlled by the mainland.
Therefore, whether it is in terms of tactics and strategy, specific implementation steps and tactics, and even maritime law enforcement, the mainland is ready to "take over" at any time. Through this exercise, the mainland side not only issued a warning to Lai Qingde and other "Taiwan independence" separatists, but also solemnly declared to the international community, especially to United States, that cross-strait reunification is unswerving.
Recently, Lai Ching-te's series of "Taiwan independence" words and deeds have been escalating, including his advocacy of the so-called "two-state theory" that "the two sides of the strait are not subordinate to each other," and his demand that the Taiwan military fight for "Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu" in many commemorative activities. In addition, he refused to sign a peace agreement with the mainland and announced that he would train 400,000 militias in case of emergency.
Lai Qingde's actions have undoubtedly made the situation in the Taiwan Strait more and more tense. Behind the arrogance of Lai Qingde's "Taiwan independence" is obviously indispensable to the support and agitation of United States. In this regard, the mainland side has long made clear its stand, and it is prepared to talk and fight. If the United States and the Taiwan authorities continue to collude and encourage "seeking independence," then please be optimistic and the PLA will not be soft in punishing "Taiwan independence."