Chinese PLA conducts joint drill surrounding Taiwan

The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) holds the Joint Sword-2024B exercises in the Taiwan Straits on October 14, 2024. (Illustration: Courtesy of the PLA Eastern Theater Command)

Beijing, October 14 — On Monday, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command is dispatching its troops of army, navy, air force and rocket force to conduct joint military drills code-named Joint Sword-2024B in the Taiwan Straits and areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan island. The drill serves as a stern warning to the separatist acts of “Taiwan Independence” forces, Senior Captain Li Xi, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement released early Monday morning.