Following the initiation of major Joint Sword-2024A combat exercises surrounding Taiwan on May 23, new details on the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)’s joint services operations have been provided by both local and Taiwanese media outlets. The state run CCTV news outlet reported regarding operation that “multiple batches of fighters equipped with live ammunition” were deployed in “strike positions” near Taiwan’s southeastern coast alongside the Air Force’s H-6 bombers. “Under the cover of the fighter formations, several bombers left the island chain and established multiple strike positions off the coast of Taitung, cooperating with naval ship formations and mobile shore missiles… Fire units, etc., conduct simulated strikes on important targets,” it reported. Footage released by state media provided some insight into the assets involved in the exercises, which have included PHL-16 very long range rocket artillery systems, DF-15 tactical ballistic missiles, and H-6 bombers carrying cruise missiles, all of which are well suited to saturating enemy air defences in the event of a conflict in the Strait.
Reports from the Republic of China Armed Forces, the official name of the armed forces on Taiwan opposing the PLA, reported 62 PLA aircraft were deployed in the operation as well as 27 warships. Footage released showed J-16 fighters and H-6 bombers, which have reportedly bee supported by KJ-500 airborne early warning and control systems. Warships deployed have included Type 052D destroyers, Type 054A frigates, and Type 022 catamaran missile boats. It was notable that the PLA refrained from deploying either its most capable fighter class, the J-20, or its most capable destroyer the Type 055, which was speculated to be in part influenced by the fact that even second-tier assets already provide overwhelming superiority in the Taiwan Strait. J-20s and Type 055s could be reserved to deter interventions by Taipei’s security partners Japan and the United States in the event of conflict. The two Chinese governments in Beijing and Taipei remain in a state of civil war, with both claiming to be the sole legitimate authority over the entire Chinese nation. The Taipei government, however, lacks UN recognition and has diplomatic ties with only 11 of the UN’s 193 member states.