Insert: China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel formations conduct law-enforcement patrols in waters surrounding Taiwan island, and carry out drills such as inspection and capture, interception and detention operations against unwarranted vessels on Tuesday. Photo: A screenshot from WeChat account of the CCG

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command on Tuesday started to conduct joint exercises around Taiwan island, said a spokesperson. Military experts noted that the drills are clearly targeted, and aimed directly at the Lai Ching-te authorities and "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. They also noted that the operation is a legitimate and necessary measure to firmly safeguard China's national sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

In the drills, the theater command organized its army, navy, air and rocket forces to close in on Taiwan island from multiple directions, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the theater command.

According to Shi, these drills mainly focus on sea-air combat-readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, assault on maritime and ground targets, and blockade of key areas and sea lanes to test the joint operation capabilities of the troops.

A J-10C fighter jet takes off during the joint exercises around Taiwan island on April 1, 2025. Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, says that on April 1, the PLA Eastern Theater Command starts to conduct joint exercises, organizing its army, navy, air and rocket forces to close in on the Taiwan Island from multiple directions. Photo: VCG

On Tuesday, the PLA Eastern Theater Command organized its vessel and aircraft formations, in coordination with conventional missile troops and long-range rocket launching systems, to conduct drills of air interception, assault on maritime targets, strikes on ground objects, and joint blockade and control, in waters to the north, south, and east of Taiwan island, the PLA Eastern Theater Command said in a statement.

Zhang Chi, a professor at the National Defense University, told Global Times on Tuesday that the exercise featured sea-air combat readiness patrols, seizure of comprehensive control, anti-sea and land attacks, as well as blockade and control of key areas and routes.

These training courses have been routinely conducted in recent PLA drills near Taiwan island, including the sea-air combat readiness patrol and the Joint Sword exercises in 2023, as well as Joint Sword-2024A and Joint Sword-2024B in 2024. Zhang noted that the purpose of these exercises is to let the DPP authorities and "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces routinely feel the PLA's firm will and strong capability in defending national sovereignty and countering secessionist forces.

The exercises showed three major capabilities of the PLA, namely joint operation, precision strike on key targets, and seizure of control, according to Zhang. 

The drills serve as a stern warning and forceful deterrent against "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and are a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China's sovereignty and national unity, Shi, the spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said in the Tuesday statement. 

The spokesperson's statement underscored the nature of the exercise, making clear that it is directed at the Lai Ching-te authorities and "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, Zhang told Global Times on Tuesday. 

Unlike Joint Sword-2024A and Joint Sword-2024B exercises, no codename was announced for the PLA exercise on Tuesday. Zhang said that, "This indicated that, from a significant extent, the PLA's exercise today has become routine. It is just like a common day for the PLA."

A transporter-erector-launcher of DF-15 ballistic missile marches into position during the joint exercises around Taiwan island on April 1, 2025. Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, says that on April 1, the PLA Eastern Theater Command starts to conduct joint exercises, organizing its army, navy, air and rocket forces to close in on the Taiwan Island from multiple directions. Photo: VCG

Shortly after the announcement of the drills on Tuesday, the PLA Eastern Theater Command's official WeChat account released a series of cartoons titled "Shell," depicting six major PLA weapons crossing the sea and encircling the Taiwan island. And it also released themed posters with one of the captions reads that "The more willful provocation, inviting greater strangulation."

Military affairs experts told the Global Times that the illustrations send a clear warning to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces that pursuing "Taiwan independence" means war and will only lead to getting oneself burned and self-destruction.

Joint moves 

China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels on Tuesday also conducted law-enforcement patrols in waters around Taiwan island in accordance with the one-China principle, amid the PLA Eastern Theater Command's joint exercises around the island, according to CCG. 

Zhu Anqing, spokesperson of the CCG's East China Sea Bureau, said on Tuesday that China Coast Guard vessel formations conducted law-enforcement patrols in waters surrounding Taiwan island, and carried out drills such as inspection and capture, interception and detention operations against unwarranted vessels.

A mission poster showing details of this law-enforcement operation was released simultaneously. The poster depicted that the CCG dispatched the 1107 formation, the 1303 formation, the 2304 formation as well as the vessels 2302, 2305 and 2307, which encircled the island from the north and south.

A source told the Global Times that the law-enforcement mission encircled the island, and specifically included the training courses of arresting "Taiwan independence" separatists attempting to flee via sea routes. A poster released by the CCG used a large number of elements from the popular animated film Ne Zha, making it easier for the audience to understand the Chinese mainland's sincerity in uniting the vast number of Taiwan compatriots and its determination to combat "Taiwan independence."

Also on Tuesday, the spokespersons of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council also made statements on the joint exercises.

The drills are a serious warning and an act of containment against "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and a legitimate and necessary move to defend national sovereignty and uphold national unity, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at the press conference on Tuesday.

Taiwan is an inalienable part of the Chinese territory. The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affairs that brook no external interference, Guo said.  

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said in a statement on Tuesday that the joint exercises serve as a resolute punishment against the reckless provocations of the Lai authorities in seeking "Taiwan independence." 

Deterrence effect 

The drills have drawn great attention from some Taiwan media and netizens on the island, and also sparked frustration against the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities over their secessionist provocations, which many believe have jeopardized cross-Straits peace and stability.

"This is not an April Fool's joke." A headline on local BCC News under the "Broadcasting Corporation of China" echoed the sentiment. In the comments section, one netizen expressed frustration against the DPP's secessionist stance, writing, "Why drag us into a crisis like this? Shouldn't leaders protect their people from war?"

Michael Chou, a Taipei-based professional, told the Global Times on Tuesday that despite it being a regular workday, the ongoing military exercises have become a hot topic of private discussion among colleagues and friends. "The DPP's actions have made Taiwan increasingly unsafe," he remarked.

Lai and the DPP authorities often attempt to conceal their underlying fears by claiming to be "unaffected" by moves of the mainland, Zhu Guilan, an expert from the Institute of Taiwan Studies under Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

However, Lai has introduced the so-called "whole-of-society defense resilience" strategy and increased the "defense budget" to about 3 percent of GDP, which is clear evidence of the real deterrent effect of the PLA's exercises, said Zhu.

Zhu Guilan outlined three key significances of the military exercises, the first being that it serves as a concrete operation to safeguard China's Constitution. The second is that the exercises represent a firm implementation of the Anti-Secession Law.

Third, Zhu Guilan said the exercises underscore that, under certain circumstances, the state may adopt non-peaceful means and other necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. It clearly defines a red line that "Taiwan independence" separatist forces must not cross, making them fully aware of the serious consequences of their actions.

Zhu Guilan also noted that the military exercises will inevitably have a strong deterrent effect on "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. The drills fully showcased the PLA's military strength and advanced capabilities, served to comprehensively test and further enhance the PLA's combat capabilities and operational readiness and reaffirmed that the PLA maintains full-time combat readiness, is prepared to fight at any moment, and is determined to prevail.

The Tuesday moves send a clear message to separatist forces that the PLA stands ready to respond swiftly and decisively to any provocation, said the expert.