(ECNS) -- Starting at 7:45 a.m. on Thursday, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) commenced joint military drills surrounding the island of Taiwan.
The joint military drills were conducted in the Taiwan Strait, the north, south and east of Taiwan Island, as well as areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin.
Li Xi, spokesperson for the theater command, said military services including the army, navy, air force and rocket force of the theater command are being organized to conduct the joint drills, code-named Joint Sword-2024A, from Thursday to Friday.
The exercises involve the patrol of vessels and planes closing in on areas around the island of Taiwan and integrated operations inside and outside the island chain to test the joint real combat capabilities of the forces of the command, Li added.
The military drills serve as a strong discipline to the separatist acts of "Taiwan independence" forces and a severe warning against external forces' interference and provocations, Li concluded.