The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has concluded its "Joint Sword-2024B" drills, said a spokesperson on Monday.
The command on Monday organized its troops of army, navy, air force and rocket force to conduct the drills in the Taiwan Strait and in areas to the north, south and east of Taiwan Island.
Li Xi, spokesperson for the command, said the integrated joint operation capabilities of the troops were fully tested during the drills.
Always on high alert, troops of the command will keep strengthening combat readiness with arduous training and resolutely foil "Taiwan independence" separatist attempts, Li added.
The "Joint Sword-2024B" drills focused on joint sea-air combat readiness patrols, blockade and control of key ports and areas, strikes on sea and land targets, and joint seizure of comprehensive superiority, so as to test the joint real combat capabilities of the PLA soldiers.
The drills involved vessels and planes closing in on the island from multiple directions and assaults by joint forces.
"In this exercise, the heart of the mission for me and my fellow soldiers was to break through the 'enemy's' air defense alert system and seize regional air superiority. It directly tested our airspace alert, air confrontation, and aerial refueling capabilities in a real combat scenario. We aimed to warn the separatists, in a language the 'enemy' understands, that seeking 'Taiwan independence' means war and such attempts will only backfire and bring their own destruction," said Wei Cao, a pilot from an air brigade of the Eastern Theater Command.
"As a killer punch of the army's long-range firepower, our rocket artillery unit is capable of fast response, high precision and fierce firepower in combat. We are fully capable of precise long-distance strikes, with increasingly formidable punches and more options at our disposal. If the 'Taiwan independence' forces are bent on playing with fire, they will undoubtedly be severely punished," said Li Xiaotian, a solider of a rocket artillery unit of the command.
PLA concludes "Joint Sword-2024B" drills
PLA concludes "Joint Sword-2024B" drills
Lebanon is facing renewed calls for a new president to be elected following a two-year power vacuum as the deadly Israeli offensive has thrown the country into turmoil amid fears the crisis could further escalate into a prolonged all-out war.
Lebanon has been without a president since October 2022, when the term of former president Michel Aoun ended. Political divisions and a lack of agreement among parliamentary blocs have resulted in failed attempts to elect a new leader, while the Middle Eastern nation is heavily divided between numerous political forces and different religious sects.
"We know very well that the Lebanese factions are highly influenced by foreign powers that dictate their policies. Some are controlled by the Americans, others by the Gulf, Iran, Syria and more," said local political writer Ramy Naeem.
Parliament member Abdel Rahman Bazry told the China Global Television Network (CGTN) that these conflicting agendas have paralyzed parliament, leading to the presidential post lying empty.
"The parliament is the sole body that has the authority to elect a president and to form a cabinet. Unfortunately some people have been trying to manipulate this by putting certain conditions on the parliament or by really preventing the parliament from going into an election," said Bazry, who represents Sidon in the Lebanese parliament.
The Lebanese death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks has risen to 2,300 since last October, with over 10,000 injured, while over a million people have been displaced.
Given the severity of this unfolding situation, there's a heated debate over how any potential leader should prioritize handling the current crisis.
"As a member of the opposition, I want a president first who fulfills the demands of the people to end the war, not a president that will back the resistance and Hezbollah," said Naeem.
"The priority is as follows: to keep the internal front more cohesive. Second, to work all together with our government to achieve a ceasefire and third, to elect a president so we can have a new government," said Bazry.
Hezbollah is a major player in Lebanon with 15 seats in parliament and two seats in government. Some Lebanese forces and western powers like the U.S. and France want to exclude the Iran-backed Hezbollah from the equation, and blame the group for dragging the country into a war it cannot win.
But even staunch opponents of Hezbollah know it is unrealistic to dismiss the armed group completely.
"Who elects the representatives in parliament are the Lebanese people. I can't force the Shiites in Lebanon not to vote for their candidates. However, I can tell them that I don't accept your representative to be armed and point a gun at me. No political party has the right to arm itself and violate our constitution," said Naeem.
Many people inside the country are calling for Hezbollah to disarm and merge within the Lebanese military forces. But despite the daily onslaught and air raids from Israel that have been targeting Hezbollah leaders and it's infrastructure, officials say they are still adamant to continue their resistance against the Israeli aggression.
"The resistance is in good shape and we are taking every calculated step to strengthen our stronghold on the field politically and in the war zone," Hezbollah spokesman Mohamed Afify told reporters on Saturday.
Lebanon struggles with internal power vacuum as it battles Israel
