The Chinese military announced on the 1st that it has begun joint exercises, mobilizing its army, navy, air force, and rocket forces to encircle Taiwan.
Spokesperson Su of the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army of China noted on social media that "from the 1st, the Eastern Theater will mobilize troops from the army, navy, air force, and rocket forces, and ships and military aircraft will approach Taiwan from various directions around the island."
The spokesperson said, "We will focus on practicing combat readiness and patrol exercises of the navy and air force, and we will test the joint operational capabilities of theater forces through comprehensive control capture, maritime and land strikes, and blockade of key points and roads." He continued, "This serves as a serious warning and strong deterrent against the separatist forces of 'Taiwan independence,' as well as a just and necessary action to defend national sovereignty and national unification."
The Eastern Theater released a separate post featuring a military action poster titled 'Advance.' It depicts a map of Taiwan surrounded by Chinese military aircraft and warships. The poster includes the phrase, "The wicked act of 'Taiwan independence' will lead to self-immolation."
A 1 minute and 52 seconds training introduction video produced by the Eastern Theater includes scenes edited together with graphics from last year's hit Chinese game 'Black Myth: OKONG,' featuring stealth and detection equipment as well as artillery from the Chinese military.
State-run China Central Television (CCTV) began live broadcasting of the training situation in the waters surrounding Jinmen Island, under Taiwan's jurisdiction, near the southeastern city of Xiamen in Fujian Province, shortly after the Eastern Theater announced the training.
China's 'Taiwan encirclement' training comes six months after an earlier 'Joint Exercise Lijian (利劍·Sharp Knife)-2024B,' which was carried out in response to Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's National Day (Double Tenth Day) speech last October. This Taiwan encirclement training is interpreted as targeting President Lai and Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Previously, Taiwan defined China as an adversary and announced measures such as identifying spies within the Taiwanese military and restricting exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.