TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Rizhao, Shandong Province, on Wednesday (May 22) to conduct research and inspections, Xinhua News Agency reported Thursday (May 23).
This visit comes amid heightened military activities by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, which launched the "Joint Sword-2024A" exercises around Taiwan on Thursday, signaling increased military pressure on the island.
During his visit, Xi explored Rizhao Port (日照港) and the Sunshine Coast Greenway, focusing on the port's intelligent and green construction, expansion of openness, and coastal ecological protection and restoration.
This visit is part of a broader initiative by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leaders to conduct "research" activities across various regions, ahead of the 20th CCP Central Committee's third plenary session scheduled for July.
The "Joint Sword-2024A" exercises by the PLA Eastern Theater Command underscore the ongoing military pressure faced by Taiwan. These maneuvers are a clear demonstration of China's strategic posture in the region and its readiness to assert its claims over Taiwan.
As the CCP prepares for its upcoming plenary session, the leadership's research activities and military exercises collectively highlight the complex dynamics at play in cross-strait relations and the broader geopolitical landscape in East Asia. Observers will be closely watching the outcomes of these developments and their implications for regional stability.