The two-day joint military drills carried out by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) surrounding the island of Taiwan starting from early Thursday aim to convey a message to secessionists that there is nowhere safe for them, according to a Chinese military expert.
The drills are being conducted in the Taiwan Strait, and in the north, south and east of Taiwan Island, as well as areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu and Dongyin.
Senior Colonel Li Xi, spokesman for the PLA Eastern 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 drills also serve as a strong punishment for the separatist acts of Taiwan secessionists and a stern warning against the interference and provocation by external forces, according to Li.
Zhang Chi, assistant professor with the PLA National Defense University, said that exercises include maritime areas close to Taiwan's eastern coast, sending a strong message to separatists on the island.
"Among these exercise areas, there are several large exercise blocks, which are basically set up around the island of Taiwan. We can see that we have set two exercise areas in the sea and air space near the eastern part of the island, mainly to block the escape of 'Taiwan independence' separatists and break through their comfort zone, because for a long time the Taiwan separatists have thought that the eastern part of Taiwan might be a relatively safe and comfortable space in which they could hide and escape," said Zhang, speaking in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV).
"Our exercise closing in on adjacent sea and air space east of Taiwan island is to tell 'Taiwan independence' separatists that no place here is safe for you. We have the ability to commence all-round attacks in in all directions," he added.
The drills focus on joint sea-air combat-readiness patrol, joint seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, and joint precision strikes on key targets. 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 under the Eastern Theater Command.
PLA drills close in on Taiwan Island's east coast to break separatists' comfort zone
Military expert explains significance of PLA drills around Taiwan Island
Military expert explains significance of PLA drills around Taiwan Island
China is promoting the high-quality development of trade in services through high-standard opening up, while also striving to advance international standards cooperation and the internationalization of Chinese standards, an official with the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) said in Beijing on Saturday.
During an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) on the sidelines of the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), Yao Xin, Secretary-General of the CCPIT Commercial Sub-council, elaborated on the strategies that China is implementing to adapt to the evolving global trade landscape.
"To adapt to the changes in the global trade environment, China will further innovate and upgrade the trade in services, promote the high-quality development of trade and services by openness. So now you see, China has opened up more service sectors to improve the system of opening up of the service trade and take the initiative to dock with international high-standard economic and trade rules and further enhance the standardization of service trade," Yao said.
International standardization plays a pivotal role in global services trade. As a result, China has undertaken measures to advance the internationalization of Chinese standards, according to the official.
For example, last year, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) formally set up a secretariat for a management-related committee in China. This marked the first instance of such an establishment in China in the 76-year history of the ISO.
"First, now we emphasize collaboration with the International Organization for Standardization. So, for example, we take the responsibility of the secretariat of the committee and management consultancy under the ISO, and we also draft some new standards [on issues], including the sharing economy, digital marketing, live streaming marketing, and e-commerce. And the second is now we are to innovate some new paths. Because in China, we have the association standard, so we use a new path that is from a social standard to the international standard. And the third now, we established some mechanism. So, for example, we organize the different standardization forum," Yao explained.
Nevertheless, there are challenges in the endeavor to promote the internationalization of Chinese standards, as noted by the official. This is because standards are the result of consensus-building, making it occasionally challenging to reach a consensus.
"So, I think now China needs to continue to strengthen its own capacity building and expand its international network. We should have more and more friends and actively promote the trade agreement and understand cooperation. So, China can contribute much more in the international standardization," Yao added.
Themed "Global Services, Shared Prosperity," the 2024 CIFTIS is taking place at the China National Convention Center and the Shougang Park in Beijing from Sept 12 to 16.
China promotes high-quality trade development, int'l standards cooperation: official
