China Holds Military Drills Around Taiwan, Says It's A "Stern Warning" Against Outside Interference

State-run media said the purpose of the drills is to serve as "strong punishment" and a "stern warning" for outside interference.

BEIJING - The Chinese Eastern Theater Command has begun carrying out military drills dubbed "Joint Sword-2024A" around the island of Taiwan starting at 7:45 in the morning on Thursday and involving vessels and aircraft closing in on targets around the island of Taiwan.

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Chinese Military Services To Participate: Army, Navy, Air Forces, Rocket Force

Areas where the drills are being carried out May 23rd through May 24th:

• Taiwan Straits

• North of Taiwan

• South of Taiwan

• East of Taiwan

• Around Kinmen

• Around Matsu

• Around Wuqiu

• Around Dongyin

Spokesman for the PLA's Eastern Theater Command Li Xi said that military services involved in the drills include the: Army, Navy, Air Force, and the theater command's Rocket Force.

Chinese state-run media reports that the drills will be centered around joint sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets around the island of Taiwan, and to test the command's combat capabilities.

State-run media also said the purpose of the drills is to serve as "strong punishment" and a "stern warning" for outside interference and "provocation by external forces", citing the spokesman for the Chinese theater command.

Full Statement/Map Posted By The Chinese Military: