China flexes military might: Simulated Taiwan blockade aims to deter US intervention
China's Military Drills: A Show of Strength Near Taiwan
China has openly expressed its intention to annex Taiwan, potentially by cutting off supplies and imposing a blockade on the island. To prevent the US military from aiding Taiwan, China recently conducted military drills. According to the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals, the December 2024 simulation aimed to block US forces from accessing the sea around Taiwan.
During these exercises, China deployed 18 destroyers and frigates east of the "first island chain," which stretches from the Philippines to Japan's Nansei Islands. The drills, held from December 6-12, used anti-access/area denial (A2AD) tactics to keep US forces from passing the first island chain, located west of the second chain, which extends from Guam to Japan's Izu Islands.
This was China's largest military drill in nearly thirty years, demonstrating its ability to blockade Taiwan and assert dominance over the First Island Chain, which includes the South and East China Seas. A key aspect was the coordination of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern, Southern, and Northern Theatre Commands, conducting large-scale combined arms drills to pressure Taiwan and its allies.
China also deployed over 60 PLA-Navy warships and 30 China Coast Guard vessels from the South China Sea to Japan's Ryukyu Islands, along with more than 134 PLA airplanes during the exercises. The Chinese forces practiced attacking foreign ships, obstructing maritime routes, and intercepting commercial vessels without live-fire training. Additionally, the PLA-Navy constructed two barriers southeast of Taiwan to restrict access to the First Island Chain.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan
Taiwan is an island located near China. It is a place where many people live, and it has its own government. China considers Taiwan as part of its territory, but Taiwan sees itself as separate.
US military intervention
US military intervention means when the United States uses its military forces to get involved in a situation, usually to help or protect a country. In this case, it refers to the US possibly helping Taiwan if there is a conflict with China.
PLA-Navy
PLA-Navy stands for the People's Liberation Army Navy, which is the naval branch of China's military. It includes all the ships and submarines that China uses to protect its waters and interests.
Anti-access/area denial tactics
Anti-access/area denial tactics are strategies used by a military to prevent enemies from entering or moving freely in a certain area. It involves using weapons and technology to block or slow down enemy forces.
First Island Chain
The First Island Chain is a series of islands in the Pacific Ocean, including Taiwan, that are important for military strategy. Controlling this area helps a country like China protect its coast and influence nearby regions.
Theatre Commands
Theatre Commands are large military divisions responsible for operations in specific geographic areas. In China, the Eastern, Southern, and Northern Theatre Commands manage military activities in different parts of the country.
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