China's Military Exercises Around Taiwan: Drills Focus on Interdiction and Control

Heightened Tensions as Chinese Coast Guard and Military Conduct Joint Operations Near Taiwan.

Following the announcement of military exercises by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command around Taiwan starting April 1st, the China Coast Guard has declared its participation in the drills.

According to a statement released in both Chinese and English, the China Coast Guard's East Sea branch will conduct law enforcement patrols in the waters surrounding Taiwan. Spokesperson Zhu Anqing stated that these patrols will include inspections, arrests, and interception exercises. The Coast Guard emphasized that "Taiwan is a province of China, and this is an actual action of managing the island based on the one-China principle."

Earlier in the day, PLA Eastern Theater Command spokesperson Shi Yi announced that the exercises would involve the participation of the army, navy, air force, and rocket force. These forces will conduct multi-directional close approaches to Taiwan, focusing on training in sea and air combat readiness patrols, securing comprehensive control, maritime and land strikes, and controlling key areas and passages. The drills are designed to assess the theater command's joint combat capabilities.