China’s military conducted a live-fire exercise called “Strait Thunder” in the Taiwan Strait, simulating strikes on key ports and energy facilities, according to a Wednesday announcement.
This represents an escalation from Tuesday’s military drills around Taiwan, the democratic island that Beijing claims as its territory. Taiwan’s presidential office “strongly condemns” these “military provocations,” which have become increasingly common as cross-strait relations deteriorate.
The exercises coincide with China’s intensified rhetoric against Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te, whom they’ve labeled a “parasite” and “separatist.” Earlier this month, Lai referred to China as a “foreign hostile force.”
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) stated the drills served as a “serious warning and powerful containment of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces.” The military released cartoons depicting Lai as a “parasite” that was “poisoning Taiwan island” and “courting ultimate destruction,” including an image of Lai being grilled over fire.
Another PLA video titled “Subdue demons and vanquish evils” compared the military’s capabilities to the magical powers of the Monkey King, a mythical Chinese character. The Communist Party newspaper People’s Daily published opinion pieces denouncing Lai as a “troublemaker” and “warmonger.”
While the specific trigger for this week’s drills wasn’t explicitly stated, Chinese authorities have referenced policies announced by Lai last month to counter Beijing’s influence operations – where he used the “foreign hostile force” term. The timing suggests Chinese authorities waited until after President Xi Jinping’s meetings with international business leaders and the Boao business summit concluded on March 28.
The drills also come as global attention focuses elsewhere, with markets preparing for the Trump administration’s next round of tariffs.
In response, the White House said Tuesday that President Trump was “emphasising the importance of maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait.” On Wednesday, the US State Department reaffirmed its “enduring commitment” to Taiwan.
Experts believe the PLA is moving toward making such exercises around Taiwan routine rather than responses to specific provocations. Some view these drills as rehearsals for a potential blockade to overthrow Taipei’s government, with the Chinese military describing them as practice to “close in on Taiwan from all directions.”
Analysts suggest Beijing is increasing the frequency and scale of military exercises to pressure Taiwan’s population into eventually accepting annexation as inevitable. This comes despite polls consistently showing that most Taiwanese people firmly oppose a takeover by China’s Communist Party.
Taiwanese officials warn that China may conduct more military drills later this year, possibly coinciding with anniversaries of Lai’s inauguration or Taiwan’s National Day in October.
However, these PLA movements also provide Taiwan’s military an opportunity to study Chinese maneuvers and better prepare their forces for any actual attack.
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