TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A China Coast Guard vessel warned its Taiwanese counterpart in the Hokkien dialect during their Monday (Oct. 14) military drills, claiming "Taiwan is an inseparable part of China." The surprise military drill, "Joint Sword-2024B," saw 125 Chinese aircraft encircling Taiwan on the day.
The drill, which ran from 8 a.m. to about 6 p.m., was broadcasted live by Chinese state media CCTV News, drawing significant attention to the situation. The People's Liberation Army (PLA, 解放軍) intruded into the waters surrounding Matsu's Nangan and Dongyin, maintaining a presence around the island throughout the day.
CCTV News footage showed a Chinese Coast Guard vessel, hull number 14607, communicating with a Taiwanese Coast Guard ship, asserting, "This is the territorial sea of the People's Republic of China." An officer from China Coast Guard further emphasized their mission by declaring, "Taiwan is an inseparable part of China."
Wu Qian (吳謙), a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, claimed that the PLA's actions targeted Taiwan independence forces rather than the Taiwanese people. Wu argued that "Joint Sword-2024B" was a response to provocations, not a repetition of the previous "Joint Sword-2024A."
Following the drill, the Chinese Coast Guard posted images on Weibo, captioned, "The vessel routes are in the shape of love," with one image depicting the exercise's path as a giant heart. Another image showcased a coast guard ship, described as "super impressive, super large," and "10,000-ton class, also super fast."