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Joint Sharp Sword 2024B

With Xi Jinping's accession to the leadership of the People's Republic of China, tensions have risen in line with the modernization of the People's Liberation Army. After Hong Kong’s return to China, it was clear that Beijing had no intention of respecting the one country, two regimes rule, and relations between the two countries escalated rapidly. For Beijing, immediate the problem was the strong protest against the speech of the new Taiwanese president, Lai Ching-te, who on 10 October 2024 specifically reiterated that the island of Taiwan is not part of the Republic of China. For Beijing and its leaders, this rhetoric is largely too independent.

On 14 October 2024, China launched the Joint Sharp Sword 2024B military exercise, the main objective of which is to practice a joint assault, blockade, and capture of key points in Taiwan. In addition, the exercise is intended to demonstrate China's power and "intimidate" those forces on the island that advocate secession. The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army of China organized forces from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force to conduct the "Joint Sharp Sword-2024B" exercise in the Taiwan Strait, as well as north, south, and east of Taiwan Island.

Eastern Theater Command spokesperson, Senior Captain Li Xihai, confirmed that the aircraft carrier Liaoning participated in the exercise. In an official WeChat post, he stated that on October 14, the Eastern Theater Command organized the Liaoning carrier group to conduct coordinated ship-aircraft drills, joint air superiority exercises, and sea-to-land strike drills with ground, naval, air, and rocket forces in the sea and air areas east of Taiwan Island. The drill was aimed at testing the integrated coordination between inner and outer defense lines and the joint combat capabilities of various military branches.

This exercise focused on training sea and air combat readiness patrols, blockades of key ports and areas, sea and land strikes, and seizing comprehensive control, to test the actual combat capabilities of the theater's troops in joint operations. After the theater's joint command center issued an action order, ships and aircraft approached Taiwan from multiple directions, and various military services launched a joint assault to create a multi-pronged encirclement .

Analysts identified three notable changes compared with previous exercises:

1. Multidimensional force deployment: Ships and aircraft approached Taiwan from multiple directions, including the Taiwan Strait, north of Taiwan Island, southwest of Taiwan Island, and east of Taiwan Island simultaneously, creating a more comprehensive layout.
2. Diversified operations: This exercise featured a wider range of actions, including maritime and air combat readiness patrols, blockades of key ports and areas, as well as sea and land strikes and joint control operations. The patterns of operations are continually evolving and being optimized. It can be said that the PLA's "fist" is becoming stronger, and their range of options is expanding.
3. Real-combat atmosphere: The exercise began with actions initiated at night, followed by rapid maneuvering and deployment, demonstrating the PLA’s ability to shift from training to combat at any time.

Ships and aircraft approached Taiwan Island from multiple directions, and various military services conducted joint assaults, focusing on exercises on sea and air combat readiness patrols, blockades of key ports and key areas, sea and land strikes, and seizing comprehensive control rights, to test the actual combat capabilities of the theater troops in joint operations. This is a strong deterrent to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces seeking "independence", and is a legitimate and necessary action to defend national sovereignty and maintain national unity. Li Xi, a spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command, said that on October 14, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army successfully completed all subjects of the "Joint Sword-2024B" exercise, which comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat capabilities of the theater troops. The theater troops always maintain a high level of alert, continue to strengthen training and preparations, and resolutely thwart the separatist activities of "Taiwan independence".

Some sources reported, seemingy without foundation, that the United States and Japan had decided to start the "Sharp Sword-2024" joint military exercise from October 23, which seemed to be a "collision" with the People's Liberation upposedly, the US-Japan joint military exercise has used the code name "Sharp Sword". The United States and Japan have started the "Sharp Sword" joint military exercise since 1985. This year is the 17th time. During the period, there would be 370 military aircraft participating, as well as 40 ships. At that time, 45,000 people will participate in this year's "Sharp Sword" military exercise. All these details appear to be fake news.