China Power

China Dials up Military, Economic Pressure Campaign Against Taiwan’s New President

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China Power | Security | East Asia

China Dials up Military, Economic Pressure Campaign Against Taiwan’s New President

The tactics are familiar: military exercises, economic coercion, and pressure on Taiwanese celebrities.

China Dials up Military, Economic Pressure Campaign Against Taiwan’s New President

In this photo released by the Taiwan Ministry of National Defense, Taiwan guided missile destroyer Ma Kong DDG1805, left, monitors Chinese guided missile destroyer Xi’an DDG15, right, near Taiwan on May 23, 2024.

Credit: Taiwan Ministry of National Defense via AP

China’s pressure on Taiwan has continued since the presidential inauguration of Lai Ching-te on May 20. This has generally involved familiar means China has long used to seek leverage over Taiwan, including military threats, economic coercion, and pressure on Taiwanese entertainers.

The most dramatic means by which China sought to register its displeasure with Lai was, unsurprisingly, military exercises. A set of drills took place around Taiwan on May 23 and 24. These were termed “Joint Sword-2024A,” indicating continuity with the “Joint Sword.” military exercises conducted by China around Taiwan in April 2023.

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