After last weekend's drills near Scarborough Shoal, Beijing's military newspaper warned on Sunday of a 'head-on blow' against those 'making waves' in the South China Sea, while Taiwan's security chief says China's hybrid warfare is testing the whole region.
Beijing claims Taiwan as its own territory and has not renounced taking it by force, while Taipei rejects that claim. The People's Liberation Army keeps up pressure across the Taiwan Strait through exercises and training, including, according to a report the defence ministry was asked about, replicas of buildings on the island used as practice targets. The PLA celebrates its founding anniversary each 1 August, and this year's marks 99 years. Its centenary in 2027 is also the deadline Beijing has set for a set of military modernisation goals, leaving one year to go, which has made the date a reference point for assessments of Chinese capabilities.
Taiwan's security chief said Beijing's "hybrid warfare" tactics are testing the entire region, not just the island, Nikkei Asia reported on Monday. The report available to Bota does not specify which tactics or incidents he cited.
China's army and coast guard held exercises around Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) and Beijing issued new reserve rules to tighten its control over the disputed reef. On Sunday the Chinese military's newspaper warned that Beijing has a 'rich and powerful' toolkit ready for a 'head-on blow' against those who 'make waves' in the South China Sea, after Philippine efforts to map its claim.
The Chinese military and coast guard held joint naval and air drills on Saturday near Scarborough Shoal, which Beijing calls Huangyan Dao, days after China criticised a Philippine territorial move, the South China Morning Post reported. Global Times said the exercises included interdiction of forced entry and forced towing and involved an H-6K bomber carrying YJ-12 supersonic anti-ship missiles, while The Hindu reported that China issued new rules asserting control over the disputed shoal.
China's defence ministry said on Thursday that the People's Liberation Army is ready for combat at all times to thwart 'Taiwan independence' separatist attempts, responding to a report on replicas of island buildings used in training. The force marks its 99th anniversary on Saturday, one year from the deadline for its centenary modernisation goals.