PLA combat drills show China is prepared to defend its sovereignty

The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army on Sunday conducted simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on Taiwan Island and the surrounding sea areas on the second day of the "Joint Sword" exercises. 

After testing the forces' capability of seizing dominance at sea, in the air and in the information domain on Saturday, multiple types of units carried out simulated joint precision strikes on key targets on the island and the surrounding sea areas, and continue to maintain a situation of deterrence and suppression around the island, the command said. 

The "Joint Sword" exercises will take place from Saturday to Monday in the waters and air in the Taiwan Straits and to the north, east and south of the island.

During the drill on Sunday, destroyers, frigates and missile boats worked closely to track simulated targets on southwest of the island. The patrol ships then surrounded the targets from all directions. 

According to video footage released by the command, during the exercises on Sunday morning, Chinese Navy' s frigate Xuzhou was only about five nautical miles from the Taiwan region's frigate Yiyang, which was clear visible.

To create a joint strike system with naval forces, dozens of early warning aircrafts, reconnaissance aircraft, fighter jets, bombers and electronic warfare planes had been launched to offer guidance and cover the strike forces. 

Meanwhile, ground forces' troops of multiple-launch rocket systems used drones to guide the precise strikes on multiple targets with different types of missiles.

Also, the task forces of the rocket forces had completed the first round of simulated attacks on key targets on the island and moved to another designated zone overnight to prepare for the second round of simulated attacks.

Jiang Xiaodong, a company commander of the 72nd Group Army of PLA Ground Force, said on China Central Television that the exercises will focus on carrying out quick and precise attacks and testing new tactics during combat. 

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, the spokesman for the command, said on Saturday that the operations are a serious warning to the collusion and provocations by "Taiwan independence" separatists and external forces and a necessary move to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The combat readiness patrols and drills came just days after Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen met with US Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday during the recent provocative "transit" trip.

Tsai visited countries in Central America from March 29 to April 7, with stops in New York and Los Angeles.