PLA Friday drills not warning, but rehearsal for Taiwan takeover: Global Times editorial

[Feng Leng]

PLA Friday drills not warning, but rehearsal for Taiwan takeover: Global Times editorial - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is conducting a real-combat military exercise near the Taiwan Straits starting Friday. Taiwan media reported that starting 7:16 am, aircraft of the PLA were approaching Taiwan island from four directions: the southwest, west, northwest and north of the island. Taiwan reportedly made 22 broadcasts to "dispel" the PLA aircraft, and the island used "airspace" instead of "air zone" or "air defense identification zone" in its broadcasts. The "Taiwan defense department" said 18 Chinese aircraft appeared in the Taiwan Straits, with some crossing the "middle-line."

From our point of view, the PLA is still restrained. Every time a high-ranking US official visits Taiwan, the fighter jets of the PLA should be one step closer to the island. If the US secretary of state or secretary of defense come to Taiwan, the PLA should fly its aircraft over the island and conduct exercises above it. The missiles we test should also fly over Taiwan, even its "Presidential Office Building." If Taiwan authorities continue to act aggressively, such scenarios will definitely come true.

The military exercise sent two prominent signals. First, China's Ministry of National Defense spokesperson made it clear that the exercise is aimed at the current situation in the Taiwan Straits, which refers to the frequent collusion between the US and the island of Taiwan, the visit of US Undersecretary of State Keith Krach to Taiwan in particular. This indicates that the PLA won't be restrained in words anymore. Our target of deterrence is collusion between the US and the island. It shows China's upgraded determination and will.

Second, the response of the PLA is extremely quick. Taiwan and the US did not officially announce Krach's visit until he boarded the plane. Krach arrived in Taiwan Thursday. There was no announcement on the military exercise of the PLA in advance. It's more likely the exercise was a last-minute decision.

That a massive action can be organized in such a short time sends a strong signal. It shows that the PLA has the ability to mobilize and organize a military action targeted at Taiwan in a very short period of time. Although it's called a military exercise, it's more like an actual combat. It's an emergency response by the PLA and the country to the situation in the Taiwan Straits, which contains great significance, adding the weight of the mainland in dealing with the cross-Straits situation.

Through this exercise and the previous series of exercises, the PLA has accumulated experience in attacking Taiwan and mastered key data on Taiwan's defense system. They are rehearsals on taking over Taiwan. What is needed is a political reason that can turn them into real battle to smash Taiwan independence forces.

The collusion between the US and Taiwan island is becoming the most prominent source of turbulence in the Taiwan Straits. The PLA military exercise this time further focused on deterrence and a strike. If the US and Taiwan island think they can realize "normalization" of relations by adopting "salami tactics," they will be plunged into peril and risks. The mainland is determined to take all necessary means, including military options, to prevent the US and the island from upgrading their provocations.

The PLA has lifted the curtain on real-combat military exercises targeted at Taiwan, and the scale of such exercises is bound to expand in the future and meet the requirements for substantive strikes against Taiwan. In fact, the Friday exercise is a landmark in the struggle across the Taiwan Straits.

The US and Taiwan must not misjudge the situation, or believe the exercise is a bluff. Should they continue to make provocations, a war will inevitably break out. Those who have underestimated China's determination recently have all paid the price. China decisively put forward the implementation of the national security law for Hong Kong. China has shown that it doesn't fear war on the China-India border. The Taiwan Straits is by no means a place where separatists can act recklessly. If Taiwan authorities try, they will definitely be met with the mainland's military solutions.

Taiwan is a small place. It has no conditions for a modern military confrontation. Taiwan independence is a dead end.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1306895105727410177

This article is about the air war scenario:

1) the Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense visits Taiwan

2) PLAAF fly over Taiwan, triggering air combat over the skies of Taipei

3) bombing of Taiwan's military and political infrastructure

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

So apparently all the other show of force drills over the past 30+ years were not serious just all a huffing and puffing show...eh we knew it.

 

[Feng Leng]

So apparently all the other show of force drills over the past 30+ years were just all a huffing and puffing show...eh we knew it.

You could say that.

We haven't opened fire in anger since March 14, 1988... until two weeks ago. We also put up with Hong Kong cockroaches since 1997... until a few months ago. We put up with Taiwan separatists since DPP was elected in 2016... now the events are set in motion, it's time for PLA to demonstrate our fancy toys in combat!

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

You could say that.

We haven't opened fire in anger since March 14, 1988... until two weeks ago. We also put up with Hong Kong cockroaches since 1997... until a few months ago. We put up with Taiwan separatists since DPP was elected in 2016... now the events are set in motion, it's time for PLA to demonstrate our fancy toys in combat!

You spend a lot of energy keeping your own people in line....

 

[Feng Leng]

Military analysts predict PLA maneuvers in potential Taiwan takeover

Military analysts predict PLA maneuvers in potential Taiwan takeover - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

Amid US Undersecretary of State Keith Krach's visit to the island of Taiwan, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is holding joint maritime and aerial exercises and combat-readiness patrols in the Taiwan Straits starting Friday, as media on the Taiwan island reported concentrated PLA warplane activities near the island's "airspace" in four directions around the island on Friday morning.

Starting Friday, the PLA Eastern Theater Command is conducting real combat-oriented exercises near Taiwan Straits, Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson at the Ministry of National Defense, told the Global Times at a press conference on Friday.

The PLA operations have multiple dimensions that make secessionists on the island a turtle in a jar, and the PLA can turn the exercises into real action any time if Taiwan secessionists insist on their obduracy, Chinese mainland experts said on Friday.

The move, which targets the current cross-Straits situation, is legitimate and necessary action the mainland has taken to protect its sovereignty and integrity, Ren said.

The news on the PLA's live-fire exercises came when US Undersecretary of State Keith Krach is paying a visit to Taiwan island to attend the memorial service of Lee Teng-hui, known as the "Godfather of Taiwan secessionism."

Recently, the US has ramped up efforts in playing the Taiwan card and escalated provocations on military and diplomacy - sending reconnaissance planes across the Taiwan Straits, sending senior officials to visit Taiwan and intending to expand arm sales to the island.

Combat-orientated exercises

Chinese mainland military expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times on Friday that the mainland military spokespersons used three different expressions in describing the operations, namely real combat-oriented exercises, combat-readiness patrols and joint aerial and maritime drills, which showed the exercises this time are multidimensional.

Taiwan media cited the island's defense authority as saying 18 PLA warplanes - two H-6 bombers, eight J-16 fighter jets, four J-11 and four J-10 planes - were involved in the operation, and some of them crossed the "middle line" of the Taiwan Straits.

The real combat-oriented, joint aerial and maritime drills mean that the PLA is practicing in key areas of a real battle, while the combat-readiness patrols are operations aimed at preparing for combat anytime if anomalies occur on the island, Song said.

The drills also demonstrated the PLA's strong capability to mobilize for combat and a fast reaction when missions are called for, a Beijing-based military expert who asked not to be identified told the Global Times on Friday.

When US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar visited Taiwan on August 10, in addition to PLA fighter jet sorties on that day, the PLA announced drills in the Taiwan Straits on August 13. When US Undersecretary of State Keith Krach came to visit Taiwan on Thursday, the PLA immediately started real combat-oriented drills the next day.

These have shown that the PLA are well-prepared to deal with any situation in the Taiwan Straits, including mobilizing for a large-scale military operation on the island of Taiwan, in a very short period of time, the anonymous expert said.

Main battle forces of the PLA are always ready to join combat, and the recent drills have tested it, the expert said, noting that this also showed the US forces will not have time to come to Taiwan's aid, and the military on the island would not be able to stand up to the PLA's lightning quick, thundering powerful attacks, if a reunification-by-force operation is to occur.

According to computer simulations run and published by the Chinese mainland's Naval and Merchant Ships magazine in May, as well as many other military analysts, the PLA could launch intensive waves of missile and rocket attacks that would neutralize most of Taiwan's air defense capabilities and airfields within five minutes after the operation starts, and PLA warplanes would then seize air superiority and sweep enemies, with PLA warships, including two aircraft carriers, also engaging in naval battles. General air and sea superiorities are expected to be gained in about two hours, with most stationary ground military facilities destroyed.

Two PLA aircraft carriers would then group up to the east of the island and prepare to counter foreign intervention, and after 24 hours of continuous suppressive attacks, amphibious landing forces would start the landing operation that would eventually see the entire island under control, according to the simulations.

Media on the Taiwan island reported early on Friday that a large number of PLA warplanes were spotted in the "airspace" of Taiwan in four different directions, namely southwest, west, north and northwest, at altitudes ranging from 5,700 meters to 8,400 meters, within just one hour on Friday morning.

The report claimed that the military on the island attempted to use radio broadcast to drive away the PLA aircraft, and according to the broadcast, the PLA operations approached Taiwan's "airspace," instead of "air zone" or "air defense identification zone" that include regions farther away from the island.

This means the PLA has the capability to attack the secessionists on the island from multiple directions at the same time, making them "turtles in a jar" that are easy to catch, Chinese mainland observers said.

Not only in these four directions, the PLA should also surround Taiwan from its east, Song said, noting that this training showed the PLA is practicing realist tactics that can be turned into the real thing when necessary.

Taiwan is a part of China, and the PLA has the right to approach its "airspace," Song stressed.

Some military observers said that by normalizing large-scale exercises, the PLA can assemble troops near Taiwan and launch a sudden attack during the exercises. But Song said that while the PLA has that capability, it will likely not use this method, but rather give an ultimatum to the Taiwan secessionists before doing it.

If the secessionists insist on their obduracy, then the PLA could turn the exercises into real actions and reunify the island, Song said, noting that the PLA is a force of peace, and will only use military means to solve the "Taiwan question" when all other approaches have failed.

In early September, both the PLA's two aircraft carriers were spotted carrying out training exercises out in the sea for the first time, leading to fears on the Taiwan island that the PLA could conduct island encirclement patrols with the aircraft carriers. Two aircraft carriers could be used to squeeze the island of Taiwan from different angles, and deny any possible US intervention, mainland analysts said.

China's second aircraft carrier, the Shandong, is reportedly conducting training missions in the Bohai Sea, and has stayed in the Dalian Shipyard in Northeast China for the majority of this year. When it eventually returns to its home port in Sanya, South China's Hainan Province, it will likely pass through the Taiwan Straits again, observers said.

Citing satellite photos released by the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that China's third, larger and more advanced aircraft carrier is taking shape and expected to be launched into the water in the coming months.

If it comes to using military means to solve the Taiwan question, the more aircraft carriers the PLA has, the better. Indeed, three aircraft carriers would result in a significant capability boost to deter possible foreign intervention, Song said.

Some people say the PLA is mighty enough to reunify the island without aircraft carriers, not to mention a third one, but Song said that the PLA should use this overkill capability so as to finish the mission at the lowest cost possible.

"There is no middle line of the Straits," PLA pilots responded when flying across the so-called "middle line of the Taiwan Straits" on Thursday as the island's military called them to turn around, Taiwan media reported on Friday.


This article is about the invasion scenario, which is different from the air war scenario:

1) ideally have three carriers in service

2) surround Taiwan

3) deliver ultimatum

4) launch ballistic missiles

5) bomb remaining targets

6) clear coastline for landing

7) intercept foreign intervention

8) launch amphibious assault

 

[Peace be there]

So apparently all the other show of force drills over the past 30+ years were not serious just all a huffing and puffing show...eh we knew it.

Hahaha I loved it.it makes a lot of sense,you nailed it.

 

[zectech]

Don't give away what would lead to war, or else war mongers would keep doing it to start a new war.

Washington wants conflict.

The military exercises should be intimidating to Taiwan, so Taiwan is afraid of being a proxy of the US.

War between China and Taiwan is not in China's best interest.

 

[Feng Leng]

Don't give away what would lead to war, or else war mongers would keep doing it to start a new war.

Washington wants conflict.

The military exercises should be intimidating to Taiwan, so Taiwan is afraid of being a proxy of the US.

War between China and Taiwan is not in China's best interest.

The truth is, Taiwan is too brainwashed to be intimidated until blood is spilled. Once blood is spilled, they will cower in terror. That's why it looks like we will need to spill blood -- very likely the US secretary of state or secretary of defense will visit Taiwan in October.

 

[Feng Leng]

Even more PLAAF rehearsed the air attack today!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1307176893343440896

 

[Feng Leng]

Beijing is ready to tackle all scenarios with Taiwan

Beijing is ready to tackle all scenarios with Taiwan - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

The Taiwan-based Central News Agency reported on Saturday that another 19 fighter jets and bombers from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) flew across the so-called "middle line" of the Taiwan Straits on Saturday and entered airspace close to the southwestern and northwestern parts of the island. It was unprecedented to see PLA aircraft fly close to the island of Taiwan on such a large scale for two consecutive days.

I believe it is the PLA's practical rehearsal for an island takeover. It clearly declared that the Chinese mainland no longer tolerates the underhanded collusion between the US government and the island's secessionist forces. Such collusion has become the mainland's prior and principal target to strike. It must be stopped otherwise the PLA will continue to upgrade its military operations, until an ultimate showdown.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused the Chinese mainland of "military blustering" on Friday, while the island's authorities blamed Beijing for "infringing on the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Straits" on Saturday. The Chinese mainland doesn't need to pay any attention to the nonsense-talking.

The reason for the rising cross-Straits tensions is that Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen abandoned the "1992 Consensus" after taking office and changed the situation in the Taiwan Straits. Besides, the US has elevated its political and military ties with the island by approving the Taiwan Travel Act and increasing its arms sales to the island.

The wanton move of the US and the island to violate the one-China principle has led to the current deterioration of the cross-Straits situation. The PLA's large-scale aircraft operations and drills in recent days can be seen as a turning point for the mainland's strategic counterattack.

The PLA's jets have been just "an inch" away from the island of Taiwan. If the US and the island continue their collusion to secede the island from China, we believe that the PLA is resolute enough to launch cruise missiles over through the island, send fighter jets above the island to declare sovereignty, and carry out military drills there. As a result, a new military construct will be formed in the Taiwan Straits.

What is important is the entirety of the Chinese mainland society has lost their patience regarding the island's secessionist authorities. People on the mainland universally believe the island's authorities need to learn an essential lesson. If the island's military dare fire the first shot against the PLA's jets, then the PLA will launch destructive strikes against the island's military forces, pushing the Taiwan question into a completely new stage.

There are few people who believe the US troops will interfere in a cross-Straits military confrontation. Even if the US really does so, the PLA has also prepared for that scenario. The PLA is confident of defeating the US intervention into the Taiwan Straits, dealing a heavy blow the ambitions of US hegemony.

The Chinese mainland loves peace, but we are increasingly aware that peace must be supported by strong military capabilities and the determination to use such strength when necessary. The US and the island are developing their ties with underhanded moves, but now they have truly exposed themselves. Tsai's authorities shall either stop playing with fire before it is too late or prepare for dire consequences.

 

[hirobo2]

It was Eve that caused Adam to commit the sin. When I was in university, the worse thing was having a Caucasian female lecturer (not Asian female they're different). My God the things the bitches did to make you get a passing grade...

You saw how SK doomed itself with THAAD when they had a female leader. Taiwan gonna get itself fooked in the rear end coz of this female...

 

[SuperStar20]

I feel it is better if china exercise/threat/warning/barking/meow to take over taiwan to a separate sticky thread.

 

[Feng Leng]

PLA warplanes featured in drills in Taiwan Straits ‘capable of seizing air superiority and command of sea’

PLA warplanes featured in drills in Taiwan Straits ‘capable of seizing air superiority and command of sea’ - Global Times

www.globaltimes.cn

In two consecutive days of military drills in the Taiwan Straits on Friday and Saturday, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) reportedly conducted nearly 40 sorties featuring four major types of warplanes - air superiority fighters, multirole fighters, bombers and an anti-submarine warfare aircraft, which Chinese mainland analysts said on Sunday are capable of seizing air superiority and command of the sea over the island of Taiwan and in the Straits.

Two H-6 bombers, eight J-16 fighters, four J-10 fighters and four J-11 fighters on Friday, and 12 J-16 fighters, two J-10 fighters, two J-11 fighters, two H-6 bombers and one Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft on Saturday crossed the "middle line" of the Taiwan Straits, according to two press releases by Taiwan's defense authority on Friday and Saturday.

Media on the island reported that the PLA continued its sorties in the Taiwan Straits on Sunday, but the island's defense authority reportedly claimed "no anomaly was noticed."

Chinese mainland military analysts pointed out that the warplane combination the PLA deployed in the exercises is very accurate to a real combat situation and covers many different scenarios.

J-10 and J-11 fighters are mainly used in combat against hostile aircraft, H-6 bombers are mainly used to attack warships and ground facilities, J-16 fighters are multirole and can tackle all aerial, maritime and land targets, and the Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft can locate and attack enemy submarines, a mainland military expert who asked for anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday.

According to Taiwan's defense authority, PLA air superiority fighters, namely the J-10s and J-11s, operated to the northwest of the island close to Hsinchu and Taichung, where the island's Mirage 2000 and F-CK-1 fighters are based. The simulated missions by the J-10s and J-11s were probably aimed at neutralizing any remaining Taiwan warplanes there that had made their way into the air after surviving potential PLA missile and artillery strikes on Taiwan military airfields, analysts said.

Several J-16 fighters, probably equipped with not only air-to-air missiles, but also anti-ship missiles and ground attack weapons, reportedly operated to the north of the island, near Taipei, Keelung and Yilan, where the political center and some of the naval bases of the Taiwan island are located.

The other J-16s found themselves to the southwest of the island, near the H-6 bombers and the Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft. Analysts expect the J-16s to deal with Taiwan F-16 and F-CK-1 fighters based in Chiayi and Tainan, while also escort and cooperate with the H-6s in eliminating Taiwan warships based in Penghu and Kaohsiung with anti-ship missiles if necessary.

Taiwan has fewer than 30 main battle surface combatants, and the two H-6 bombers each carrying four YJ-12 anti-ship missiles plus the eight to 12 J-16s each carrying two to four YJ-83 anti-ship missiles in addition to air combat armaments can prove to be devastating to the island's naval force, the anonymous expert said.

The Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft could clear the Straits of submarines and, together with PLA minesweeping vessels, it could pave paths for the PLA landing forces, analysts said.

Starting Friday, the PLA Eastern Theater Command is conducting real combat-oriented exercises near the Taiwan Straits, Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, a spokesperson at the Ministry of National Defense, told the Global Times at a press conference on Friday.

The move, which targets the current cross-Straits situation, is a legitimate and necessary action the mainland has taken to protect its sovereignty and integrity, Ren said.

The PLA's live-fire exercises came when US Undersecretary of State Keith Krach is paying a visit to Taiwan island. Recently, the US has ramped up efforts in playing the Taiwan card and escalated provocations on military and diplomacy.

Analysts said the PLA drills this time are not a warning, but a rehearsal for a Taiwan takeover.


Beijing is revealing the outlines of its campaign against Taiwan. There will be at least three options: (1) bombing of Taiwan military targets, (2) bombing of Taiwan military + political targets and (3) amphibious assault on Taiwan after bombing Taiwan military + political targets. PLAAF air superiority fighters, multirole fighters, bombers, anti-submarine aircraft and PLAN minesweepers all have their role in this campaign.