The picture shows the fighter taking off during the exercise
The topic of this issue, the "Joint Sword-2024B" exercise has started, and the drill can be turned into actual combat at any time! The reunification of the motherland is unstoppable, and "Taiwan independence" elements will burn themselves by playing with fire.
On October 14, 2024, after repeated provocations by the "Taiwan independence" diehard forces and the continuous arching of fire by the United States. The Eastern Theater of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) launched the "Joint Sword 2024B" military exercise in the Taiwan Strait and the waters around Taiwan Island, mobilizing multiple forces such as the army, navy, air force, and rocket force. During the exercise, various arms of the armed forces approached Taiwan Island in multiple directions, focusing on naval and air patrols, port closure and control, sea and land strikes, and comprehensive control of power, so as to comprehensively test their joint combat capabilities.
As for why the exercise was launched in the early hours of the morning, which everyone was concerned about, from the perspective of the art of war, "taking them by surprise and attacking them by surprise." The wee hours of the morning are usually the most lax and tired for people, and Taiwan's defenses are no exception. With the help of this time period to launch military exercises, the PLA can more effectively take the initiative in a short period of time and psychologically break the opponent's defense. At the tactical level, operations launched in the early hours of the morning are more likely to be sudden and quick without interference. Not only does this help increase the effectiveness of surprise attacks, but it also enhances deterrence by demonstrating strength when an opponent is unprepared.
The picture shows a night exercise of a Chinese aircraft carrier
In addition, night operations are becoming increasingly important in modern warfare. Low visibility at night places greater demands on the mobility and concealment of the army, but it also brings significant tactical advantages. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has continuously improved its night combat capabilities in recent years, and has become more advanced in its night-vision equipment and full-time combat capabilities. The low-light environment in the early hours of the morning provides the PLA with a high degree of concealment, allowing it to operate in a low-key manner without being easily detected.
With advanced technology and equipment, the PLA can use night vision, infrared and radar to accurately lock on to targets, so as to obtain better strike results at night. The darkness of the night covers the actions of large-scale troops, and carries out rapid assembly, surprise attacks and fire coverage in a very short period of time, effectively enhancing the combat effect and deterrence.
Thus, by conducting the Joint Sword 2024B exercises in the early hours of the morning, the PLA not only demonstrated its all-weather combat capabilities, but also gained strategic and psychological superiority. This arrangement would help increase the effectiveness of the surprise attack and demonstrate the PLA's ability to strike together and assert supremacy.
The picture shows the PLA warships participating in the exercise
Compared with the Joint Sword 2024A exercise, this exercise is also quite different. As we mentioned earlier, in the "Joint Sword-2024B" military exercise, the Eastern Theater of the Chinese People's Liberation Army showed a trend of gradually improving the actual combat capability of night operations. The exercise in the early hours of the morning not only showed that the PLA attaches great importance to night operations, but also showed that the troops are constantly adapting to the needs of all-weather operations. Compared with previous military exercises, this operation was conducted earlier, further enhancing the deterrent effect of enemy defenses.
In addition, the number of participating troops and the further expansion of the blockade and control circle around Taiwan Island further demonstrated the PLA's ability to conduct actual blockade exercises around Taiwan Island. During the exercise, as many as four coast guard formations, namely the 2901, 1305, 1303 and 2102 formations of the coast guard, participated in the round-the-island patrol and control operations around Weitai Island, which was an important step for the PLA and the coast guard forces to coordinate operations.
Compared with the past, the participation of the coast guard fleet has been increased, especially the 10,000-ton coast guard ships with larger tonnage and stronger practical combat capabilities. The addition of the coast guard team has not only increased the pressure on "resisting reunification by force", but also directly implemented the sovereignty control action on Taiwan by strengthening the patrol control of the waters around Taiwan Island, so that the blockade circle has gradually narrowed and it is close to many important nodes on the Taiwan mainland. This multi-directional approach posture and increasingly accurate strike capability demonstrate the PLA's ability to gradually strengthen its suppression and control over Taiwan through the Joint Sword exercise.
The picture shows Lai Qingde
Since Lai Qingde came to power, the provocative acts of the "Taiwan independence" forces have become more and more obvious. In his inaugural speech on May 20, 2024, he once again mentioned the so-called "sovereignty" issue and emphasized a confrontational stance, triggering a strong reaction from the mainland. In the summer of the same year, the Taiwan military held the "Han Kuang 39" military exercise, simulating a response to an attack on the mainland and showing a posture of stubborn resistance. In his speech on 10 October's "Double Tenth Day," Lai Qingde even exaggerated the so-called "sovereignty and independence" through rhetoric in a vain attempt to further intensify cross-strait relations. These remarks and deeds show that the "DPP authorities" continue to promote the "Taiwan independence" stance and ignore the mainstream public opinion for cross-strait peace and stability.
At the same time, United States is constantly increasing arms sales and aid to Taiwan. In August 2023 alone, the United States approved a total of $500 million in military aid packages, including fighter jets, drones and missiles, aimed at enhancing Taiwan's defense capabilities.
The picture shows the US-made "Harpoon" missile
As of October 2024, United States has provided more than 1 billion yuan worth of weapons and parts, including "Harpoon" missiles and air-to-air missiles, to the Taiwan region through arms sales and military aid, further enhancing the defense capability of the Taiwan military in the sea and air domain. In addition, the United States has also passed a number of relevant bills to ensure continuous military aid and equipment support for Taiwan, making the Taiwan region more militarily dependent on United States, and exacerbating tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
In this regard, the mainland has also expressed its resolute stance through a series of countermeasures. First of all, in terms of public opinion, the official media solemnly criticized the provocation of the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, pointing out that Lai Qingde's radical remarks will only lead to further tension in the Taiwan Strait and harm the well-being of compatriots on both sides of the strait.
The picture shows the factory of the United States arms dealer Raytheon
Second, in terms of trade sanctions, the mainland has strengthened the inspection and quarantine of Taiwan's agricultural products, food, and other commodities, and has repeatedly suspended the import of certain Taiwan-made commodities in order to weaken the economic support of the "Taiwan independence" forces. In addition, severe sanctions have been imposed on United States arms dealers involved in arms sales to Taiwan.
In June and July 2024, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced sanctions against six companies, including Raytheon and Lockheed · Martin, banning all business activities in mainland China for long-term arms sales to Taiwan. The mainland is showing with practical actions that both local politicians in the Taiwan region who directly support the "Taiwan independence" forces and foreign forces that provide military support to them will bear the consequences for their actions.
As a matter of fact, a series of military, political, and economic actions by the PLA and the mainland have proved a truth, that is, the more "Taiwan independence" provocations are made, the tighter the mainland's noose will be. The PLA's "Joint Sword" series of exercises is no longer limited to phases A and B, but has demonstrated its firm determination to be ready for actual combat at any time by increasing the scale, variety, and frequency of the exercises.
To sum up today's fiery sentence, the PLA has seized comprehensive control by approaching Taiwan for exercises, and the more provocative it is, the tighter it will be! "Taiwan independence" is a dead end, and Taiwan must return!