Chinese military: provincial heads in unusual flurry of visits to Eastern Theatre Command to support war planning

Name: Why Taiwan is a ‘life-or-death question’ for China: Cui Tiankai on US-China tension
Uploaded: 2024-02-02T10:23:59.000Z
Duration: 30 min 18 s
Description: Why Taiwan is a ‘life-or-death question’ for China: Cui Tiankai on US-China tension

Eastern Theatre Command, which is responsible for the East China Sea and Taiwan, received provincial-level party secretaries around time of Taiwan election

Jiangxi party secretary Yin Hong vowed his province would ‘focus on what the troops need to prepare for and win combat’

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In the past month, three provincial-level party secretaries have made special tours to the Eastern Theatre Command that exercises authority over the military forces within their provinces, according to local newspapers. Photo: PLA Eastern Theatre Weibo

Amber Wangin Beijing

Published: 6:23pm, 2 Feb 2024Updated: 7:08pm, 2 Feb 2024

Chinese provincial chiefs have made a flurry of visits to the PLA command overseeing Taiwan, pledging full support for war readiness.

In the past month, three provincial-level Communist Party secretaries have made special tours to the Eastern Theatre Command, meeting its chief, General Lin Xiangyang.

As well as responsibility for the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea, the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command has authority over the military forces within these provinces.

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Why Taiwan is a ‘life-or-death question’ for China: Cui Tiankai on US-China tension

Although the visits are not unprecedented, it is unusual to have so many in such a short time, particularly so close to Taiwan’s presidential and legislative elections on January 13.

In a meeting with Lin at the command on Tuesday, Anhui party secretary Han Jun said the province would “fully support troop training and combat readiness” of the command, according to Anhui Daily newspaper.

A day earlier Zhou Zuyi, party secretary of Fujian province, met Lin, saying he hoped the command could “make greater contributions to the great cause of reunification”, referring to Beijing’s goal of unifying with Taiwan.

Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to arming Taiwan.