China Launches Mock Missile Strikes on Taiwan: Taipei Scrambles Armed F-16s

China has conducted mock missile strikes on Taiwan dispatching fighter jets carrying live munitions. The actions formed part of two-day military exercises Beijing initiated to reprimand Taiwan’s new president, Lai Ching-te.

The bombers formed several attack formations in waters east of Taiwan, executing simulated attacks in coordination with naval vessels, as China tested its capability to “seize power” and control critical areas of Taiwan.

The drills, taking place in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan-controlled islands near the Chinese coast, started three days after Lai assumed office.

A Taiwanese official indicated that these exercises included mock bombings of foreign vessels. Taiwan has condemned China’s actions.

China regards democratically governed Taiwan as its territory and denounces Lai as a “separatist.”

It strongly criticised his inauguration speech, in which he urged Beijing to cease its threats, asserting that the two sides of the strait are “not subordinate to each other.”

The Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army stated that the exercises, named “Joint Sword – 2024A,” were intended to “test the ability to jointly seize power, launch joint attacks, and occupy key areas.”

A senior Taiwan security official told Reuters that several Chinese bombers conducted mock attacks on foreign vessels near the eastern end of the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines, practicing how to gain “total control” of areas west of the first island chain.

This chain extends from Japan through Taiwan, the Philippines, and on to Borneo, enclosing China’s coastal seas.

The official, who spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the situation, mentioned that several Chinese coast guard boats also conducted “harassment” drills off Taiwan’s east coast, including mock inspections of civilian ships.

China’s Coast Guard reported that it had performed “law enforcement drills” in waters east of Taiwan on Friday, focusing on training in verification and identification, warning, and repulsion. Chinese vessel Nantong carried out combat readiness patrols and practical drill missions in the Taiwan Strait, followed closely by Taiwanese ship Zheng He, as reported by CCTV.

A public relations officer of the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet stated that it was closely monitoring “all activities” in the Indo-Pacific and takes “very seriously” the responsibility to deter aggression in the region.

Although Taiwan and the United States lack official diplomatic relations, Washington recognises Beijing formally but is legally bound to provide Taiwan with defensive means and remains its most crucial international supporter.

On Friday, the Chinese theatre command posted an animated video on its WeChat social media account, depicting missiles launched at Taiwan from ground, air, and sea, striking the cities of Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Hualien in fiery explosions.

CCTV later announced that China conducted mock missile attacks on Taiwan using dozens of missiles. The video concluded with the phrase “Sacred weapons to kill independence” in traditional Chinese characters used in Taiwan.

Taiwan’s armed forces have mobilised to monitor and shadow Chinese forces.

Taiwanese Air Force F-16

Taiwan’s defence ministry published pictures on Friday of F-16s armed with live missiles patrolling the skies, and images of Chinese coast guard vessels and Jiangdao-class corvettes participating in the drills.

The ministry reported that by 6 a.m. on Friday, it had detected 49 Chinese military aircraft, 19 navy, and seven coast guard ships.

Of the aircraft, 28 crossed the strait’s median line, an unofficial barrier China claims not to recognise. The closest Chinese aircraft came within 40 nautical miles of the northern city and navy base of Keelung, according to a map provided by the ministry.

President Lai has repeatedly offered to negotiate with China but has been consistently rebuffed.

He insists that only the people of Taiwan can decide their future and rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.

Despite China’s military threats, life in Taiwan continues as normal, with media coverage focused both on the drills and ongoing parliamentary reform protests.

On China’s regulated Weibo social media platform, ‘Eastern Theatre’ was the top search, with most comments supporting the drills, alongside discussions on “the return of Taiwan.”

The defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong’s communists, who established the People’s Republic of China.

The Republic of China remains Taiwan’s official name, although it is diplomatically recognised by only 12 countries, mostly small, developing nations like Palau and Guatemala.

Analysts, regional diplomats, and senior Taiwan officials noted that the scale of the current drills was smaller than similar exercises in 2022 and were anticipated by Taiwanese and foreign officials. However, they still pose risks of accidents or miscalculations.

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