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Taiwan Strait drills shed light on some of Beijing’s tactics for seizing island: analysts
- Military analysts say the PLA’s preferred option would be lightning strikes with the aim of quickly taking out Taiwan’s command centres
- Recent exercises included large-scale air and sea drills, simulated amphibious landings and an effective blockade of the island
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The recent drills mainland China conducted against Taiwan exposed part of Beijing’s strategy for seizing control of the island, but its preferred options are likely to include lightning strikes designed to do so at minimal cost, according to military analysts.
On Wednesday the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command announced it had “successfully completed” various tasks in its recent drills and warned it was planning further exercises.
The drills began last Thursday after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island – which Beijing regarded as a major violation of its sovereignty – and included large-scale air and sea exercises in six areas around the island, as well as the firing of 11 Dongfeng missiles over the island.
Drones were also spotted flying over Quemoy, a Taiwanese-held island also known as Kinmen, and were used for monitoring target shootings.
The 73rd Group Army of the People’s Liberation Army also conducted amphibious landing drills in Fujian province, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Another “joint blockade” operation – which included aerial combat and refuelling and sea support operations – was carried out by the PLA’s Eastern Theatre Command on Tuesday.
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