73 military assets detected around Taiwan during the drills: 15 navy vessels, 16 coast guard vessels, and 42 military aircraft
China conducted military drills surrounding Taiwan on May 23, 2024
Chinese government considers Democratic Progressive Party separatists
New Taiwan president Lai Ching-te asserted the island's sovereignty on May 20, which Beijing viewed as a provocation
China, the world's most populous country, conducted military drills surrounding Taiwan on May 23, 2024. The exercises came as a response to Taiwan's new president, Lai Ching-te, who took office on May 20 and asserted the island's sovereignty. According to multiple sources,
China detected a total of 73 military assets around Taiwan during the drills. These included 15 navy vessels, 16 coast guard vessels, and 42 military aircraft.
The Chinese government viewed Lai's election as a provocation and considered his political party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), to be separatists. Beijing had previously cut off communication with the Taiwanese government in 2016 when Tsai Ing-wen took office and held similar military drills in response.
Lai's inaugural speech included assertions of Taiwan's separate status from China, which further angered Beijing. In response, Chinese officials called the drills a
China not pleased with Lai Ching-te's win in Taiwan presidential election
Taiwan scrambled jets and put missile, naval and land units on alert over Chinese military exercises around the island
Accuracy
Beijing claims Taiwan is part of China’s national territory
People’s Liberation Army sends navy ships and warplanes into the Taiwan Strait and other areas around the island almost daily to wear down Taiwan’s defenses and seek to intimidate its people
China called its military exercises around Taiwan a powerful punishment for separatist forces seeking independence
China launched military drills surrounding Taiwan on Thursday as a stern warning to its opponents after Taiwan's new president asserted the island's sovereignty.
The drills were the first substantive response by China to President Lai Ching-te, who was sworn in on Monday and asserts Taiwan’s separate status from China.
China detected 15 navy vessels, 16 coast guard vessels, and 42 military aircraft around Taiwan’s main island and smaller outlying islands during the exercises.
China launched military drills around Taiwan after the inauguration of its new president, Lai Ching-te.
Lai is from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), a pro-sovereignty political party viewed as separatists by the Chinese government.
Beijing views the DPP as separatists and cut off communication with the Taiwanese government in 2016 after Tsai Ing-wen took office.
Lai has advocated more strongly for Taiwanese independence but softened his stance during his presidential campaign, hewing closely to Tsai’s path of not formally declaring independence.
Beijing detests Lai and took exception to parts of his inauguration speech that appeared to affirm Taiwan’s separateness from China.
Accuracy
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Deception
(30%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position about the significance of China's military drills around Taiwan. The author states that 'How significant are the drills?' and answers by stating that they are significant because they are the most significant since similar exercises were launched against Taiwan in August 2022 and April 2023, but did not involve live fire near Taiwan on the first day. However, the article fails to mention that these previous drills did not include live fire near Taiwan either. The author also states that 'So far, the drills appear to be smaller and of a lower intensity compared with 2022 and 2023 in terms of level of activity.' but does not provide any evidence or data to support this claim. Additionally, the article contains emotional manipulation as it uses phrases like 'punishment' and 'nailed to the pillar of history' when describing China's actions towards Taiwan.
There is increasing concern that rather than an all-out assault, Beijing will increase its less militaristic ‘greyzone’ activities, which are harder for Taiwan and other interested parties to calculate a response to.
Beijing views the DPP as separatists. It cut off communication with the Taiwanese government in 2016 shortly after Tsai took office. The Chinese government is particularly concerned about Lai, who in the past has advocated more strongly for Taiwanese independence.
The drills are the most significant since similar exercises were launched against Taiwan in August 2022 and April 2023.
Fallacies
(90%)
The article contains a few informal fallacies and appeals to authority. It uses inflammatory rhetoric when describing China's military drills around Taiwan and quotes Chinese state media without providing counter-arguments or analysis. The author also dichotomously depicts the situation between China and Taiwan, presenting Beijing's perspective as a hostile force against Taiwan's sovereignty.
. . . China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to take control of it, with force if necessary.
The Chinese government is particularly concerned about Lai, who in the past has advocated more strongly for Taiwanese independence.
Analysts and western intelligence mention dates as soon as 2027 as a deadline by which the PLA has been instructed to be ready for a conflict.
There is increasing concern that rather than an all-out assault, Beijing will increase its less militaristic ‘greyzone’ activities, which are harder for Taiwan and other interested parties to calculate a response to.
Bias
(95%)
The author expresses a clear bias against China and its actions towards Taiwan. She uses language that depicts China as a threat and an aggressor, with phrases like 'punishment for separatist acts' and 'nailed to the pillar of history'. The author also quotes Chinese officials using inflammatory language, further emphasizing the conflict between China and Taiwan. Additionally, there is a disproportionate number of quotations that reflect a negative view of China.
Beijing views the DPP as separatists. It cut off communication with the Taiwanese government in 2016 shortly after Tsai took office... Beijing detests Lai and took particular exception to parts of his inauguration speech which appeared to more strongly affirm Taiwan’s separateness from China than Tsai usually did.
China has launched two days of military drills around Taiwan after the island swore in its new president, Lai Ching-te... The naming of this Joint Sword drill, suffixed with -2024A, has fostered expectations there are more drills to come this year.
Zhang Chi, a PLA Defence University lecturer, told state media the northern sites of this week’s drills ‘sent a warning’ to the ruling DPP... There is increasing concern that rather than an all-out assault, Beijing will increase its less militaristic ‘greyzone’ activities.
Large-scale Chinese military drills near Taiwan are taking place just days after William Lai Ching-te, of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), was sworn in as president.
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Accuracy
Chinese Naval Colonel Li Xi stated that the drills are ‘strong punishment’ for ‘separatist acts’ three days after Lai was sworn in.
China called its military exercises around Taiwan a powerful punishment for separatist forces seeking independence and a serious warning to external forces for interference and provocation.
