China's Live-Fire Drills: A Show of Force and Political Challenges
Military exercises conducted by North Korea showcasing their military might: analyst perspective
By John D. Scribbler
China's live-fire drills in April and June are more than just military exercises—they're bombastic demonstrations of political might and strategic power projection, according to a Taiwanese defense analyst. Luhn Tzeng-yi, a military expert at the Defense and Security Research Institute in Taipei, shed light on the motives behind China's aggressive naval strategies.
In a report published by the institute, Tzeng-yi points out that China's drills were intentionally scheduled to counter US, Japanese, and Filipino joint exercises. For instance, the drills in April were held shortly after a series of confrontations between Chinese and Philippine coast guards near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. These conflicts involved collisions and resulting injuries, strengthening the view that China is a persistent aggressor.
According to Tzeng-yi, the increased frequency of China Coast Guard patrols from January to as recently as last month—nearly doubling the monthly average of 48 ship-days—is directly responsible for the surge in hostile interactions at sea with the Philippine Coast Guard. This escalation in tensions underscores China's hardened military posture around contested maritime areas.
The most recent drill, held from June 18 to June 20, was scheduled shortly after the US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur conducted operations in the South China Sea. Coupled with Japan and the Philippines' joint maritime security drill just a day prior, China's live-fire exercise appears to be a response designed to undermine the regional influence of coalitions led by the US.
Tzeng-yi further reveals that these actions signal Beijing's intent to escalate both the size and frequency of its drills to establish control in the South China Sea as a fait accompli. However, the exercises also serve practical military purposes, as the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) seeks to turn China's near waters into a secure base of operations for potential conflicts in the region.
Understanding the Chinese military's current operational strategy, Tzeng-yi explains that China employs three tiers of naval forces—the Chinese Maritime Militia, the coast guard, and the PLA Navy—to engage in low, medium, and high-intensity conflicts. The PLA Southern Military Command's live-fire exercise plays a critical role in ensuring that these three naval arms operate efficiently together.
Additionally, China's unprecedented simultaneous deployment of two carrier strike groups, centered around the Liaoning and the Shandong, is no mere coincidence. Instead, it represents a deliberate show of strength and a statement that the People's Liberation Army Navy has operationalized new technologies ahead of schedule and achieved naval capabilities comparable to those of the US and Japan.
In conclusion, China's live-fire drills serve a dual purpose: challenging the US-led coalition politically and enhancing its ability to project sea power in pursuit of regional ambitions. Further, these exercises demonstrate Beijing's willingness to respond quickly to unforeseen situations, maintain domestic strength, and send a strong geopolitical message to international powers.
While China is currently focused on regional equilibrium, its swift responses to external actions suggest it possesses a significant capability to exploit international conditions. This underscores the need for vigilance and the importance of strategic alliances in an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific security landscape.
- The escalating frequency of China's maritime drills, including live-fire exercises, also draws attention to the intersection of sports and politics, as some analysts see parallels between China's strategic maneuvers and the competitive nature of sports-betting, where unexpected moves can significantly impact outcomes.
- Amidst the backdrop of war-and-conflicts and general-news headlines, sports remains a popular pastime in the region, with sports-betting gaining traction in China. However, some experts question the impact of China's foreign policy decisions on the integrity of sports-betting, given the country's increasing assertiveness in regional affairs.
