Taiwan holds air defences drill ahead of China's Joint Sword-2024C exercise
Taiwan's Air Defence Drill Amid China's Upcoming Joint Sword-2024C Exercise
Taiwan's armed forces conducted a comprehensive air defence drill on Thursday as China prepares for its third large-scale military exercise, Joint Sword-2024C, near Taiwan. The drill involved air, naval, and missile defence units to enhance readiness against potential threats. The exercise took place from 5 am to 7 am, deploying fighter jets, naval vessels, and air defence missile systems.
Aircraft such as the Indigenous Defence Fighter (IDF), Mirage 2000, F-16, and C-130 transport planes were used, along with ground-based air defence missile units. The drill focused on practicing responses to enemy attacks on critical positions, integrating air defence, cyber-electronic warfare, and cooperation across Taiwan's armed forces.
The exercise emphasized safeguarding the 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone east of Taiwan, known as the "air raid alert line." Forces tested their capability to respond to sorties from Chinese Shenyang J-15 fighter jets launched from aircraft carriers like the Liaoning, which had previously conducted exercises off Taiwan's east coast in October.
These quarterly drills, formerly known as the Lien Hsiang joint military exercise, are crucial to Taiwan's defence strategy against China's military maneuvers. A Taiwan security official mentioned that Beijing might use President Lai Ching-te's upcoming tour of South Pacific allies as a reason to launch Joint Sword-2024C, demonstrating power projection near Taiwan and increasing pressure on the island.
Doubts Revealed
Taiwan
Taiwan is an island located in East Asia, near China. It has its own government and operates like a separate country, but China considers it a part of its territory.
Air Defence Drill
An air defence drill is a practice exercise where the military prepares to protect the country from attacks coming from the air, like from airplanes or missiles.
China's Joint Sword-2024C
Joint Sword-2024C is a planned military exercise by China. In such exercises, the military practices its strategies and tactics, often involving different branches like the army, navy, and air force.
Missile Units
Missile units are parts of the military that operate and manage missiles, which are weapons that can be launched to hit targets far away.
Cyber-electronic warfare
Cyber-electronic warfare involves using technology to attack or defend against electronic systems, like computers and communication networks, which are important in modern military operations.
Sorties
Sorties are missions or attacks carried out by military aircraft. In this context, it refers to flights by Chinese planes near Taiwan.
24-nautical-mile zone
A nautical mile is a unit of distance used at sea. The 24-nautical-mile zone is an area of the sea around Taiwan where they are focusing their defence efforts.
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