PLA surrounds Taiwan Island in deterrence exercise

Related story: Military holds patrols, exercises around Taiwan Island

The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army has sent its air and naval forces to surround the Taiwan Island to establish deterrence from all directions, according to the command.

In the first day of the "Joint Sword" exercises, the command has mobilized destroyers, frigates, missile boats, fighter jets, bombers, electronic warfare planes, refueling aircraft as well as multiple-launch rocket systems and conventional ballistic missile units to move them to designated zones for combat deployment.

The major task of the operations on Saturday is to test forces' capability of seizing dominance at sea, in the air and in information domain, the command said, adding that units involved have been organized to move toward the island to "create a situation of deterrence and suppression".

Video clips uploaded by the command showed some of the PLA's latest hardware such as the YY-20 refueling tanker and PCH-191 multiple-launch rocket vehicle have been used in the exercises.

In addition, a new type of ground weapon that appears to be the launch vehicle for a new model of ballistic or cruise missile was also shown in the video.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, the spokesman for the command, said earlier on Saturday that the "Joint Sword" exercises will take place from Saturday to Monday in the waters and air in the Taiwan Straits and to the north, east and south of the island.

The officer said the operations are a serious warning to the collusion and provocations by "Taiwan independence" separatists and external forces and a necessary move to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.