Zhu Anqing, spokesperson of the China Coast Guard's (CCG) East China Sea Bureau, says that on April 1, 2025, Coast Guard vessel formations conducted law-enforcement patrols in waters surrounding Taiwan Island, and carried out drills such as inspection and capture, interception and detention operations against unwarranted vessels. Photo: Screenshot from WeChat account of the CCG

(Global Times) Starting on April 1, the PLA Eastern Theater Command organized its army, navy, air and rocket forces to close in on Taiwan island from multiple directions. The joint drills mainly focus on sea-air combat-readiness patrols, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, assault on maritime and ground targets, and blockade of key areas and sea lanes to test the joint operation capabilities of the troops. Complementing the joint exercises, the PLA Eastern Theater Command's official WeChat account released a series of productions, while the China Coast Guard (CCG) also conducted law-enforcement patrols in waters around Taiwan island. "The more willful provocation, inviting greater strangulation." This combination of measures sends a strong warning to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities led by Lai Ching-te: We will never tolerate or condone the secessionist forces advocating for "Taiwan independence." We must resolutely counter them and impose severe penalties.

The PLA Eastern Theater Command's joint exercises encompass army, navy, air, and rocket forces, featuring multiple cutting-edge weapons with a high degree of combat realism and a strong operational focus. Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson for the theater command, explicitly stated that the drills serve as a "stern warning and forceful deterrent" against "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces, and are a "legitimate and necessary action" to safeguard China's sovereignty and national unity. 

A series of accompanying productions have also drawn significant attention: Theme posters "Closing In" and "Enveloping advance" vividly depict the multi-domain coordinated encirclement of Taiwan island by army, navy, air and rocket forces; the short video "Subdue Demons and Vanquish Evils" showcases the PLA's overwhelming military strength and its decisive resolve to crush secessionist forces; and an animation illustrates the PLA's six key strike capabilities crossing the Straits to put an end to the separatist theatrics of Lai, a "parasite" undermining Taiwan island. The ugly face and tragic fate of the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces are evident.

Observers have noted that the joint exercises did not carry a codename, which precisely indicates that the PLA has normalized its operations in the Taiwan Straits. From honing combat readiness and familiarizing troops with battlefield conditions to enhancing joint operational capabilities and testing weaponry, every PLA exercise serves to build strength and ensure that no battle is fought unprepared. Behind this "normalization" is an increasingly sophisticated PLA operational toolbox for operations in the Taiwan Straits, with more diverse and flexible tactics. As a force dedicated to deterring "Taiwan independence" separatists and safeguarding national unity, the PLA possesses an all-encompassing combat capability, ready to strike with precision and achieve victory in every battle.

On the same day, a CCG fleet conducted patrols and law-enforcement operations around Taiwan island, tracing a "Huntianling" (Red Armillary Sash) route - an allusion to the mythological character Ne Zha. A poster incorporating elements from Ne Zha was released, along with a scenario explicitly designed to apprehend "Taiwan independence" secessionists attempting to flee, sending a strong deterrent signal to "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces. The powerful deterrent effect of the PLA and CCG operations, reinforced by a coordinated public opinion offensive, swiftly shattered the DPP authorities' psychological defense - exposing the hollowness of their claim to have "full control over the situation." This created a huge wave of unrest within the island and left "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces in a state of deep unease. With every step of movement toward "Taiwan independence," the PLA's anti-independence and containment actions will take a significant step forward. This was not only a display of strength but also a stern warning to Lai, a "parasite poisoning Taiwan island": No matter how rampant secessionist schemes become, they will never escape the judgment of justice.

Since taking office, Lai has had a bad record. He has repeatedly promoted the fallacy that the two sides of the Taiwan Straits "are not subordinate to each other," and has recently escalated his rhetoric by introducing 17 strategies that intensify the "green terror," labeling the mainland as a "foreign hostile force." This has created a "green McCarthyism" that restricts cross-Straits exchanges while simultaneously ramping up military preparations, leading Taiwan further down the path of "seeking independence through military means." Lai is hijacking all residents of Taiwan onto the "Taiwan independence" bandwagon, pushing the island step by step toward a perilous situation, and becoming an unabashed troublemaker, danger creator, and war instigator. He is willing to sacrifice Taiwan's economic development and the well-being of its residents, and his actions represent a betrayal of the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation.

The Eastern Theater Command's exercises and the CCG's law-enforcement operations carry profound significance. United Daily News in Taiwan promptly commented that the PLA's posters and animations suggest that "Taiwan independence" secessionists will inevitably lead to self-destruction, jeopardizing Taiwan's democracy and prosperity. Even as "Taiwan independence" secessionists clamor incessantly, the strong desire and concrete actions for cross-Straits people-to-people exchanges have never ceased. Furthermore, 75 scholars from the island issued a joint statement, harshly criticizing the Lai authorities as "the greatest destroyer of Taiwan's democracy and rule of law, and a potential threat to Taiwan's peace and security." Once again, rational voices from within the island prove that "Taiwan independence" lacks public support; peace is the true will of the people.

When mighty staff of Wu Kong is brandished, dust in jade-like firmament is vanquished. The exercises of the PLA Eastern Theater Command and the law-enforcement actions of the CCG once again proclaim that the will of the Chinese government and the Chinese people to maintain national sovereignty and territorial integrity is as solid as a rock, and their capabilities are unbreakable. If the Lai authorities continue to recklessly sprint down the path of "Taiwan independence," they will only push Taiwan toward the abyss of disaster. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the implementation of the Anti-Secession Law. We advise "Taiwan independence" advocates to recognize reality as soon as possible and not to wait until the day of reckoning arrives, only to regret their actions. The wheels of history roll forward relentlessly; on the journey of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, any secessionist forces will ultimately be crushed to dust.