On Friday, 46 Chinese military planes crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line, which previously served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides, Taiwan's defence ministry said on Saturday. It said it had detected a total of 62 Chinese aircraft and 27 navy ships.
The aircraft, including advanced Su-30 fighters and nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, flew in the strait as well as down into the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines, the ministry said.
On Friday, it published footage taken by Taiwanese air force planes of a Chinese J-16 fighter and an H-6 but did not say exactly where it was taken.
China has over the past four years regularly staged military activities around Taiwan, including large-scale war games in 2022 and 2023.
The People's Liberation Army Daily commentary, published as "the voice of the military", said Lai was determined to act as a "pawn" for external forces to curb China's development.
"If Taiwan independence separatist forces insist on going their own way or even take risks, the PLA will obey orders and take decisive action to resolutely smash all separatist plots," it said.
WASHINGTON: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet his Chinese counterpart, the Pentagon announced on Friday (May 24), after China carried out war games around Taiwan in a sign to the US-backed democracy's new leader.
The Pentagon said that Austin would meet Chinese Admiral Dong Jun when they attend the May 31 to Jun 2 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore – an annual gathering of defence officials from around the world.
China in recent days has encircled Taiwan with warships and fighter jets in a test of its ability to seize the island, which it claims. The drills follow the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who has vowed to safeguard self-ruling Taiwan's democracy.
Austin's meeting with Dong had been widely expected since Austin spoke to Dong by telephone in April, in what were the first substantive talks between the two powers' defence chiefs in nearly 18 months.
President Joe Biden's administration and China have been stepping up communication to ease friction, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken visiting Beijing and Shanghai last month.
But defence talks had lagged behind until Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to a resumption of military dialogue during a summit with Biden in California in November.
Austin will also travel next week to Cambodia for talks with defence ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and end his trip in France, where he will join President Joe Biden in commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
The trip was announced even though Austin plans to hand over duties temporarily to his deputy, Kathleen Hicks, due to his latest medical procedure.
The court also ordered Israel to keep open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza, which it closed earlier this month at the start of its assault on the city.
"Israel will continue to enable the Rafah crossing to remain open for the entry of humanitarian assistance from the Egyptian side of the border, and will prevent terror groups from controlling the passage," the Israeli statement added.
South Africa brought the case before the ICJ last year alleging that Israel's Gaza offensive breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention -- a charge strongly denied by Israel.
"The charges of genocide brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague are false, outrageous and morally repugnant," the Israeli statement said.
South Africa brought the case before the ICJ last year alleging that Israel's Gaza offensive breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention - a charge strongly denied by Israel.
In a ruling on Jan 26 that made headlines worldwide, the ICJ ordered Israel to do everything it could to prevent acts of genocide during its military operation in Gaza.
But South Africa has since returned several times to the ICJ arguing that the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza compels the court to issue further fresh emergency measures.
The court did so in March, ordering new measures compelling Israel to ensure the "unhindered provision at scale" of humanitarian aid.
In public hearings last week, South Africa's ambassador Vusimuzi Madonsela alleged that "Israel's genocide has continued apace and has just reached a new and horrific stage".
"Although the present application was triggered by the unfolding situation in Rafah, Israel's genocidal onslaught across Gaza has intensified over the past few days, also warranting the attention of this court," he said.
South Africa argued the only way to enable humanitarian aid in to ease the crisis in Gaza was a full halt to Israel's military operations.
The court will take months if not years to rule on the broader South African genocide case but it can order urgent measures while weighing its decision.
Israel retorted that South Africa's case was an "obscene exploitation of the most sacred convention" and the picture Pretoria paints to the court was "completely divorced from the facts and circumstances".
"Calling something a genocide, again and again, does not make it genocide. Repeating a lie does not make it true," he added.
Israel also said it was "acutely aware" of the suffering of civilians in the Gaza Strip and that it has made "extensive efforts" to increase humanitarian aid flowing.
US President Joe Biden said this week that "what's happening is not genocide".
Chinese coastguard vessels are pictured while navigating at an undisclosed location in waters around Taiwan in this handout image taken on Thursday.
BEIJING/TAIPEI - China staged mock missile strikes and dispatched fighter jets carrying live missiles along with bombers on Friday, state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said, as part of exercises Beijing has said were launched to punish Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te.
The bombers set up several attack formations in waters east of Taiwan, carrying out mock attacks in co-ordination with naval vessels, it added, as China tested its ability to "seize power" and control key areas of Taiwan.
The two days of drills in the Taiwan Strait and around groups of Taiwan-controlled islands near the Chinese coast, which a Taiwanese official said also included the mock bombing of foreign vessels, started just three days after Lai took office on Monday. Taiwan has condemned China's actions.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and denounces Lai as a "separatist". It strongly criticised his inauguration speech, in which he urged Beijing to stop its threats and said the two sides of the strait were "not subordinate to each other".
The Eastern Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army said the exercises, dubbed "Joint Sword - 2024A", were to "test the ability to jointly seize power, launch joint attacks and occupy key areas".
"This action is completely reasonable, legal, and necessary to combat the arrogance of 'Taiwan independence' and deter the interference and intervention of external forces," said Wu Qian, a spokesperson of China's defence ministry.
First island chain
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 seize "total control" of areas west of the so-called first island chain.
The first island chain refers to the area that runs from Japan through Taiwan, the Philippines and on to Borneo, enclosing China's coastal seas.
The official, speaking anonymously given the sensitivity of the situation, said several Chinese coastguard boats also conduced "harassment" drills off Taiwan's east coast, including mock inspections of civilian ships.
China's coastguard said it had conducted "law enforcement drills" in waters east of Taiwan on Friday, focused on training on verification and identification, warning and repulsion.
Chinese vessel Nantong carried out combat readiness patrol and practical drill missions in the Taiwan Strait, with Taiwanese ship Zheng He following 0.6 nautical miles behind, CCTV said.
A public relations officer of the United States Navy 7th Fleet said it was paying attention to "all of the activities" in the Indo-Pacific and takes "very seriously" the responsibility to deter aggression in the region.
Taiwan and the United States have no official diplomatic relationship, as Washington formally recognises Beijing, but is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself and is the island's most important international backer.
A large screen shows news footage of a map of military drills conducted by the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in five areas around the island of Taiwan, in Beijing, China, on Thursday. (Photo: Reuters)
Speaking in Taipei, Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said the island would not succumb to pressure.
"We will not make any concessions because of this Chinese military exercise, because it concerns the development of democracy in Taiwan," he said.
'Sacred weapons'
The Chinese theatre command showed an animated video on Friday on its WeChat social media account of missiles being launched at Taiwan from the ground, air and sea, which then slam into the cities of Taipei, Kaohsiung and Hualien in balls of flame. CCTV later said China staged mock missile attacks on Taiwan using dozens of missiles.
"Sacred weapons to kill independence," read words in red, written in the traditional Chinese characters Taiwan uses, at the end of animation.
Taiwan's armed forces have mobilised to monitor and shadow Chinese forces.
Taiwan's defence ministry on Friday published pictures of F-16s, armed with live missiles, patrolling the skies.
It also showed pictures of Chinese coastguard vessels and Chinese Jiangdao-class corvettes, though it did not say exactly where the images were taken.
The ministry said that as of 6am (2200 GMT) on Friday, it had detected 49 Chinese military aircraft, 19 navy and seven coastguard ships. Of the aircraft, 28 crossed the strait's median line, which once served as an unofficial barrier though China says it does not recognise it.
The closest Chinese aircraft got to Taiwan's coast was 40 nautical miles (74 kilometres) from the northern city, and navy base, of Keelung, according to a map the ministry provided.
Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan's people can decide their future and rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.
Taiwan is well-used to China's military threats, and the latest drills have caused no undue alarm on the island, with life carrying on as normal.
Taiwanese media have covered the drills, but also given a lot of time to ongoing drama about contested parliament reforms that have brought thousands of people onto the streets to protest.
On China's highly regulated Weibo social media site, "Eastern Theatre" was the top searched item, with most of the comments supporting the drills. Another hot topic was "the return of Taiwan".
Analysts, regional diplomats and senior Taiwan officials noted the scale of the drills so far were smaller than the similar exercises in 2022 and were widely anticipated by Taiwanese and foreign officials, but they still raised the risk of accidents or miscalculations.
The two days of drills in the Taiwan Strait started just three days after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te took office.
PHOTO: REUTERS
BEIJING – China’s military started its second day of war games around Taiwan on May 24, with drills to test its ability to “seize power” and control key areas, exercises it has said were launched to punish Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te.
China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and denounces Mr Lai as a “separatist”, decried his inauguration speech on May 20, in which he urged Beijing to stop its threats and said the two sides of the strait were “not subordinate to each other”.
The Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army said in a brief statement that its forces on May 23 continued with their drills, dubbed “Joint Sword – 2024A”.
The exercises are to “test the ability to jointly seize power, launch joint attacks and occupy key areas”, it said.
China has never ruled out the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control.
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, practising how to seize “total control” of areas west of the first island chain.
The first island chain refers to the area that runs from Japan through Taiwan, the Philippines and on to Borneo, enclosing China’s coastal seas.
The official, speaking anonymously given the sensitivity of the situation, said several Chinese coast guard boats also conduced “harassment” drills off Taiwan’s east coast, including mock inspections of civilian ships.
China’s Coast Guard said in a brief statement it had conducted “law enforcement drills” in waters east of Taiwan on Friday, focused on training on verification and identification, warning and repulsion.
The command showed an animated video on May 24 on its WeChat social media account of missiles being launched at Taiwan from the ground, air and sea, which then slam into the cities of Taipei, Kaohsiung and Hualien in balls of flame.
“Sacred weapons to kill independence,” read words in red, written in the traditional Chinese characters Taiwan uses, at the end of the video.
Taiwan’s armed forces have mobilised to monitor and shadow the Chinese forces.
Taiwan’s Defence Ministry on May 24 published pictures of F-16s, armed with live missiles, patrolling the skies.
It also showed pictures of China Coast Guard vessels, which are taking part in the drills, and Chinese Jiangdao-class corvettes, although it did not say exactly where the images were taken.
The ministry said that as at 6am on May 24, it had detected 49 Chinese military aircraft, 19 navy and seven coast guard ships. Of the aircraft, 28 crossed the strait’s median line, which once served as an unofficial barrier although China says it does not recognise it.
The closest Chinese aircraft got to Taiwan’s coast was 40 nautical miles from the northern city and navy base of Keelung, according to a map that the ministry provided.
Mr Lai has repeatedly offered talks with China but has been rebuffed. He says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future, and rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.
Taiwan is well-used to China’s military threats, and the latest drills have caused no undue alarm on the island, with life carrying on as normal.
Taiwanese media have covered the drills, but also given a lot of time to ongoing drama about contested parliament reforms that have brought thousands of people onto the streets to protest.
On China’s highly regulated Weibo social media site, “Eastern Theatre” was the top searched item, with most of the comments supporting the drills. Another hot topic was “the return of Taiwan”.
In a May 24 commentary, the official newspaper of China’s ruling Communist Party, the People’s Daily, said it was a shared belief among Chinese people that the territory of the nation cannot be divided, the country cannot be thrown into chaos and its people cannot be separated.
The recent actions of the “leader of the Taiwan region” will only accelerate the “destruction” of pro-independence forces in Taiwan, it wrote.
China is willing to create “broad space for peaceful reunification”, but will never leave any room for Taiwan “separatist activities”, the newspaper added.
Analysts, regional diplomats and senior Taiwan officials noted that so far, the scale of the drills was smaller than that of similar exercises in 2022. The exercises were widely anticipated by Taiwanese and foreign officials, but still raised the risk of accidents or miscalculations.
They said Beijing was sending a finely calibrated warning that Chinese forces could attempt a swift blockade if it wanted to bring Mr Lai to heel. REUTERS
President Lai said he would "stand on the front line" to defend Taiwan in a speech on Thursday afternoon, without directly referring to the ongoing drills.
"Faced with external challenges and threats, we will continue to defend the values of freedom and democracy, and safeguard peace and stability in the region," he said.
China has repeatedly branded Lai a "dangerous separatist" who would bring "war and decline" to the island.
Beijing was further incensed with his inauguration speech on Monday in which he hailed a "glorious" era for Taiwan's democracy.
The drills, which began on Thursday morning, are taking place in the Taiwan Strait and to the north, south and east of the island, as well as areas around the Taipei-administered islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.
China's military put out a series of posters touting what it called its "cross-strait lethality". They featured rockets, jets and naval vessels next to the blood-stained text.
"The weapon aimed at 'Taiwan independence' to kill 'independence' is already in place," it declared.
As of around 8pm local time, Taipei's defence ministry said 49 jets and planes had been detected since the drills began at 7.20am. Thirty-five of the aircraft had crossed the median line bisecting the Taiwan Strait.
