PLA tests joint combat strength for second day

The People's Liberation Army continued its interservice exercise, named "Justice Mission 2025", near Taiwan Island for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, according to the PLA Eastern Theater Command.

Starting early in the morning, destroyers, frigates, fighters and bombers sent by the command conducted drills involving identification, warning and expulsion, strikes on hostile vessels, fleet air defense, and anti-submarine warfare from air and in the waters to the north and south of Taiwan.

During the exercise, H-6K bombers simulated precision strikes against designated targets in Taiwan. The operation was intended to test the units' capability of joint operations and regional blockade, the Eastern Theater Command said.

On Tuesday afternoon, a flotilla sent by the PLA Southern Theater Command and led by an amphibious assault ship worked with destroyers, frigates and drones of the Eastern Theater Command to conduct drills including rapid landing and the seizure of key ports in the waters to the east of Taiwan.

On the ground, two units equipped with long-range rocket systems executed live-fire drills, covering the waters to the north and south of Taiwan.

All these operations achieved desired effects, according to the Eastern Theater Command.

Zhang Chi, a professor at the PLA National Defense University, said that some "Taiwan independence" separatists have the delusive belief that the PLA will never dare to strike Taiwan, but the fact is the PLA has just been mindful of the ties between Chinese mainland and Taiwan compatriots, and does not want the people of Taiwan to be dragged into war because of separatists.

However, if "Taiwan independence" separatists dare to cross the red line, or if external forces dare to seriously harm China's core interests, the PLA will "definitely deliver a head-on blow", he added.

Zhang noted that Taiwan is an island "standing alone in the sea" with scarce resources. "It relies heavily on imports for the vast majority of its energy and food supplies. Once its import routes are cut off, its war potential will plummet rapidly and the island will soon descend into chaos. Therefore, these import shipping lanes constitute the Achilles' heel of the 'Taiwan independence' separatists," he said.

Tuesday's drills demonstrated that the PLA possesses formidable capabilities to cut off the lifeline of energy and resource imports for Taiwan authorities at any time, thereby destroying their separatist agenda, Zhang said.

"The PLA can strike whenever it chooses to strike, and its firepower package can be delivered right to where the separatists are," he added.

He urged the people of Taiwan to draw a clear line with "Taiwan independence" separatists, work together to safeguard national reunification and share in the glory of national rejuvenation.

The biggest threats to cross-Strait peace and stability are attempts by external forces to use Taiwan to contain China and the pursuit of "independence" by the island's Democratic Progressive Party authorities with outside support, he said, adding that the two colluding forces are doomed to fail.

He emphasized that no matter how many weapons are sold to Taiwan, it cannot stop the historical trend that China must — and it will — achieve reunification.

Li Shangyi contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at?zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn