The People’s Republic of China (PRC) conducted a large-scale military exercise named
Joint-Sword-2024B in the waters surrounding Taiwan. The exercise was conducted with assets from
the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), and the China Coast Guard
(CCG).
In a map issued by the PLA theatre command, two exercises occurred on Taiwan’s east coast, three
on the west coast, one to the north and three in the vicinity of Taiwan-controlled islands off the coast
of mainland China. Numerous warship surface action groups with air support took part in the war
games, with a reported 17 warships (including a Lianoning aircraft carrier task force east of Taiwan)
and 125 aircraft taking part, which is the most Chinese aircraft ever detected in a single day by
Taiwan. Notably, four formations of CCG vessels entered the restricted waters off Matsu and Dongyin
islands.
Joint-Sword-2024B was claimed by PRC military authorities to involve simulated missile launches, the
opening up of “air assault corridors”, and long-range bomber missions.