Mainland Chinese ground forces conducted live-fire drills targeting simulated key infrastructure in the East China Sea on Wednesday, as part of the PLA’s continuing military exercises near Taiwan.
The precision strike exercise focused on mock ports and energy facilities and “achieved its intended objectives”, Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theatre Command, told state broadcaster CCTV on Wednesday.
The long-range firepower drills marked a new phase in the joint operations launched on Tuesday which have included land, sea, air and rocket forces in the Taiwan Strait and on the island’s eastern side.
Chinese military officials described the operation as a direct response to what they called escalating separatist activity from the Taiwanese leadership. The drills are aimed at strengthening strike capabilities and demonstrating Beijing’s resolve to deter independence moves, they said.
Earlier on Wednesday, Shi said the PLA was continuing its military exercises – code-named Strait Thunder-2025A – in the central and southern Taiwan Strait, with a focus on blockade enforcement.
The drills are focused on tasks that include verification and identification, warning and expulsion, interception, and detention, with the aim of testing the troops’ capabilities in area control, joint blockade and precision strikes, he said.
Comments are closed.