TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense conducted a comprehensive joint air defense exercise Thursday (Nov. 28) amid escalating cross-strait tensions and reports of potential Chinese military maneuvers. The exercise, involving aircraft, ships, and missile systems, was staged in anticipation of President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) upcoming visit to Pacific allies. Concerns have risen following foreign media reports suggesting China may launch the "Joint Sword-2024C" (聯合利劍-2024C) drill during Lai's travels.
A Taiwanese security official, as quoted by Reuters, suggested China's military could exploit the timing of Lai's visit to assert influence over the first island chain and test the boundaries of the incoming Trump administration. The official warned that China might repackage routine military activities in the South or East China Sea and redirect them around Taiwan, despite unstable winter weather potentially limiting the scale of drills compared to previous exercises. As these geopolitical tensions rise, Taiwan remains vigilant.
In response to President Lai's recent speech at a youth event earlier this month, Chen Binhua (陳斌華), the spokesman of China's Taiwan Affairs Office (國台辦), accused him of using "deceitful words to mislead the youth into accepting his pro-independence rhetoric, intending to make them the victims of Taiwan's independence." President Lai, however, emphasized a peaceful path for Taiwan, rejecting the 1992 Consensus and a cross-strait peace agreement, asserting that Taiwan and China are not subordinate to each other.
President Lai is set to embark on his Pacific journey on Saturday, with layovers in Guam and Hawaii, further underscoring Taiwan's commitment to strengthening ties with its allies amidst an increasingly complex regional landscape.