Taiwan Air Force F-16 aircrafts fly during a patrolling mission at an undisclosed location in Taiwan in this handout image taken on May 23, 2024, released on May 24, 2024.BEIJING/TAIPEI — China staged mock missile strikes and dispatched fighter jets carrying live missiles and bombers on Friday, state television CCTV said, as part of two-day exercises Beijing has said were launched to punish Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te.
The Eastern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army said in a statement the exercises, dubbed "Joint Sword - 2024A", were to "test the ability to jointly seize power, launch joint attacks and occupy key areas." China's Coast Guard said it had conducted "law enforcement drills" in waters east of Taiwan on Friday, focused on training on verification and identification, warning and repulsion.
The Chinese theatre command showed an animated video on Friday on its WeChat social media account of missiles being launched at Taiwan from the ground, air and sea, which then slam into the cities of Taipei, Kaohsiung and Hualien in balls of flame. CCTV later said China staged mock missiles on Taiwan attacks using dozens of missiles.
The closest Chinese aircraft got to Taiwan's coast was 40 nautical miles from the northern city, and navy base, of Keelung, according to a map the ministry provided.Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future, and rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.