PLA backs mainland drill with threat to ‘crush’ Taiwan separatists
- Warning of determined response comes a day after Taiwanese president rebuffed calls for peaceful reunification
- The Chinese military is also carrying out beach landing and other exercises in Fujian province, directly across the Taiwan Strait
A PLA Daily commentary said the Chinese military was confident and capable of “thwarting all external interference and separatist acts of ‘Taiwan independence’”.
“If the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces dared to split Taiwan from China in any name and by any means, the People’s Liberation Army will resolutely crush it at all costs,” it said.
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Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen says island 'will not bow' to mainland China
The warning came as mainland China also boosted its deployment against Taiwan, flying a record number of military aircraft into the island’s air defence identification zone.
PLA Daily reported on Monday that troops had carried out beach landing and assault drills in the southern part of Fujian province, which is directly across the Taiwan Strait from the island.
The action involved “shock” troops, sappers and boat specialists, the Chinese military newspaper added. The troops were “divided into multiple waves to grab the beach and perform combat tasks at different stages”, it said, without giving further details.
State broadcaster CCTV also aired footage of a live fire drill involving various types of warships from the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command in mock combat between red and blue forces. The footage showed a warship capable of continuing combat operations with damaged equipment, as well as the speed at which Chinese troops can launch a counter-attack.