PLA releases footage of exercises around Taiwan island

The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army released footage of the joint air and sea patrols and military exercises around the island of Taiwan launched on Saturday, which aims to send a "severe warning" to "Taiwan independence" separatists.

Seen from the footage, the Navy dispatched several destroyers, frigates and missile boats after receiving the commands. Meanwhile, a fleet of Air Force fighter planes, early warning aircraft and jamming aircraft have also taken off while troops of the Rocket Force have been quickly mobilized.

According to the command, the forces have arrived at designated air space and sea area around the island of Taiwan as planned and will approach targets from multiple angles for a long period of time to surround the island.

Senior Colonel Shi Yi, the spokesman of the PLA's Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement earlier on Saturday that the move is a severe warning for "Taiwan independence" separatists that have stepped up their collusion with foreign forces to provoke the Chinese mainland.

The exercises will focus on the coordination of naval and air forces and acquire controls of targets. It's a test for the theater’s joint operation capacity in actual combat, Shi said.