CHINA’S WAR games held in Taiwan on October 14 broke single-day exercise records. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) used 153 aircraft. Taiwan’s defense ministry also identified 26 ships, including a Chinese aircraft carrier. As if that wasn’t enough, the Chinese coast guard conducted an unprecedented patrol around Taiwan’s main island, calling it “a practical action to control the island of Taiwan in accordance with the law based on the One China principle.”

China said it was “punishment for Lai Ching-te’s constant fabrication of ‘Taiwan independence’ nonsense.” On October 10, Taiwan President Mr. Lai made a speech to celebrate the local national day. Chinese state media claimed he provoked the government in Beijing by “indulging in openly separatist and openly provocative statements.” Official news service Xinhua noted that instead of calling China the “mainland” (suggesting that China and Taiwan are a single country), it referred to it as “China” as if they were separate.

Mr. Lai appears to enjoy making rhetorical barbs at China. In September, he said that if he really cared about the country’s territorial integrity, he should take back the lands annexed by Russia in the 19th century. On October 5, he said it was “impossible” for China to become Taiwan’s homeland because the modern incarnation of Taiwan is 38 years older than Communist China. But Mr. Lai’s speech on October 10 was relatively restrained. He made no mention of independence, although he said Taiwan would “resist annexation” or “encroachment on our sovereignty.”

So speech probably wasn’t the main driver of China’s war games. Taiwanese officials say China was preparing for the exercise before Mr. Lai’s speech on October 10. The exercises, called Joint Sword-2024B, were a continuation of the two-day exercise called Joint Sword-2024A in May. The PLA said the B version was intended to test the ability of its army, navy, air force and rocket force to work together. China did not fire any missiles on Taiwan, but it blockaded Taiwanese ports and attacked sea and land targets.

It also implements messaging. China is keen to shape the narrative around its military activities. The alleged instigation by Mr Lai appeared to be aimed at giving the exercises an air of legitimacy. If China actually took action against Taiwan, it would likely accuse Taiwanese leaders of disrupting the status quo. China is also trying to portray its relations with Taiwan as an internal matter. The involvement of the Chinese coast guard in the exercise appeared to be an attempt to strengthen the claim that the waters around Taiwan actually belong to China.

The coast guard also sent its own message. She produced a photo that was widely shared online of their ship sailing in a heart shape around Taiwan, with the words: “Hello, honey… I patrol around you disguised as love.” This has led some people in Taiwan to compare China to an abusive partner. Looks like the coast guard’s public relations team still needs more practice.

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