The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Sunday released a short video of its combat training activities, showing the PLA is ready for operations at all times.
The video was released a day before the theater command organized its troops of army, navy, air force and rocket force to conduct "Joint Sword-2024B" drills in the Taiwan Strait and the north, south and east of the island of Taiwan.
Li Xi, the spokesperson for the theater command, said the drills involve vessels and planes closing in on the island from multiple directions and assaults by joint forces.
The drills focus on joint sea-air combat readiness patrol, the blockade and control of key ports and areas, strikes on sea and land targets, and the seizure of comprehensive battlefield control, so as to test the joint real-combat capabilities of the forces of the command, Li said.
The drills are a powerful deterrent to the separatist activities of "Taiwan independence" elements, and are legitimate and necessary actions to safeguard national sovereignty and national unity, Li said.
PLA releases short video on combat training activities
The Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) will continue to leverage its distinctive advantages to help the motherland connect with the Portuguese-speaking countries and other nations, and further integrate itself into the overall national development, said Sam Hou Fai, the newly elected sixth-term chief executive designate of the Macao SAR, on Sunday.
Sam made the remarks at a press conference after the Electoral Affairs Commission for the Chief Executive Election announced that he had won the election with 394 votes in favor out of 398 valid ballots.
When elaborating on his planned efforts to push for Macao's integration into the overall national development, Sam stressed that the Macao SAR should stick to the outlined development plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and help the motherland expand openness in accordance with the region's position of "one center, one platform and one base," namely a world center of tourism and leisure, an economic and trade cooperation platform for China and the Portuguese-speaking countries as well as a cultural exchange and cooperation base.
"We should make use of our advantages and give full play to the advantages of 'one country, two systems' principle in the SAR to participate in the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. At the same time, under the leadership of the central government, we should implement and develop various tasks and projects of the second phase of the Guangdong-Macao in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin, with an open mind and reform and innovation measures. In addition, we should give full play to the advantages of the Macao SAR in connecting China with the world, especially the Portuguese-speaking countries. We should adhere to the position of 'One Center, One Platform and One Base', promote the connection between the Macao SAR and the Portuguese-speaking countries, and assist the nation in trade, finance, culture, and tourism, allowing it to use Macao as a platform to strengthen economic ties and exchanges with the Portuguese-speaking countries," said Sam.
At the news conference, the newly elected chief executive designate also said Macao is an inseparable part of the country.
Noting that especially after its return to the motherland, Macao and the country are closed linked by destiny, he said that the region's significant achievements in such fields as economy and people’s livelihood have attracted global attention, fully demonstrating the strong vitality of the "one country, two systems" principle.
"When the country is strong, Macao is prosperous. Over the past 25 years since Macao's returned to the motherland, the Special Administrative Region has faithfully implemented the 'one country, two systems'. With the strong support of the central government and the robust assistance and support of the people across the country, the Macao Special Administrative Region has made great progress in terms of politics, economy, society and people’s livelihoods," Sam said.
Macao SAR to further integrate into overall national development: chief executive designate
