People's Liberation Army, Taiwan Out of Control... Military Drills Across Entire Chinese Waters

SCMP Reports Military Drills off China's East Coast Including South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, Yellow Sea
Chinese State Media Warns of Accidental Conflict in Taiwan Strait

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Jo Young-shin] The People's Liberation Army of China is conducting military exercises across all Chinese waters, further escalating military tensions in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.

On the 24th, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that the Chinese military will conduct large-scale naval exercises in the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait, Yellow Sea (West Sea), and the Bohai Sea (north of the Yellow Sea) until the 29th.

The newspaper noted that it is unusual for the Chinese military to conduct military exercises across the entire Chinese maritime area.

It also reported that amid increased naval activities such as the United States conducting military exercises in the region, the Chinese military is carrying out large-scale military drills.

Srinikas Kondapalli, a professor in the Department of Chinese Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, said, "The Chinese military has conducted exercises while moving at sea," adding, "It is unusual to conduct military exercises simultaneously in multiple maritime areas."

SCMP further added that the Chinese military is currently on the highest alert and is monitoring U.S. naval activities.

In this context, Chinese state-run media Global Times and Huanqiu Shibao (Global Times in Chinese) expressed concerns about accidental clashes, stating, "The issue of Taiwan's independence claims is highly uncertain and uncontrollable."

Chinese state media emphasized, "The military tension in the Taiwan Strait stems from the U.S. strategy to contain China," highlighting that "U.S. aircraft have conducted reconnaissance over China as many as 67 times in one month." Chinese media claim that the U.S. is escalating tensions in the region.

The Global Times stressed, "Historically, wars break out when hostility cannot be resolved," and added, "China is continuously preparing for the worst-case scenario."

The newspaper further stated, "China does not wish for war to break out in the Taiwan Strait," and added, "Efforts to ease tensions in the Taiwan Strait require goodwill from the U.S. and Taiwan." This is interpreted as meaning that if accidental clashes occur in the Taiwan Strait or elsewhere, the responsibility lies with the U.S. and Taiwan.

Ma Ying-jeou, former President of Taiwan, attended a forum held in Taiwan on the 22nd and criticized Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, saying, "If a war breaks out with China, the people will suffer," and "The current Taiwanese leadership does not even consider what kind of suffering the people will endure."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.