东部战区开展联合战备巡航，专家：亮明底线、划出红线

【环球时报-环球网报道 记者 郭媛丹】The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army announced on the 18th that it organized naval and air forces to conduct joint combat readiness patrols in relevant maritime and aerial areas of the East China Sea. The Singapore "Lianhe Zaobao" reported that this move is seen as Beijing's response to Japan's actions. The day before, on the 131st anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer passed through the Taiwan Strait, sending a misleading signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. Experts interviewed by the "Global Times" stated that this action by the Japanese ship clearly has a political probing and provocative nature, and the actions of the Chinese People's Liberation Army demonstrate our capability for precise control and our determination to respond resolutely.

On the 18th, Colonel Xu Chenghua, spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command, stated that the joint combat readiness patrol organized by the Eastern Theater Command in the relevant maritime and aerial areas of the East China Sea that day is a normal arrangement within the annual plan, aimed at testing the joint combat capabilities of the troops.

“The purpose of this joint combat readiness patrol by the Eastern Theater Command is clear, as the spokesperson has explicitly stated: ‘Based on the needs of the security situation, we regularly organize relevant military actions to maintain national sovereignty, security, and regional peace and stability.’” Military expert Zhang Junsha, in an interview with the "Global Times," stated, “When national sovereignty and territorial integrity are severely provoked, the PLA will express its stance through military actions, making clear its bottom line and drawing red lines.”

The day before, on the 17th, the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer "Rei" passed through the Taiwan Strait. The Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately made strong statements. Defense Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang stated on the 17th that the Japanese Self-Defense Force vessels are stirring up trouble in the Taiwan Strait, sending misleading signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, which will only incite greater indignation among the Chinese people and further strengthen the resolve to counter Japan's provocative actions.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that the remarks made by Takashima Sato regarding Taiwan have already brought serious impact to China-Japan relations. The Japanese side's dispatch of Self-Defense Force vessels into the Taiwan Strait to show off military strength and provoke intentionally is a mistake upon mistake. Guo Jiakun emphasized that the Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and is a political foundation for China-Japan relations, which is a red line that cannot be crossed. China once again urges Japan to seriously reflect and correct its mistakes, to halt its actions, and to act cautiously, avoiding straying further down the wrong path.

“The Eastern Theater Command's countermeasures are not aimed at normal navigation, but at Japan's deliberate provocative threats to China's sovereignty and security, and illegal actions that send misleading signals to the 'Taiwan independence' forces.” Zhang Junsha further analyzed, stating that the military actions of the Eastern Theater Command are an exercise of jurisdiction and self-defense in accordance with the law. The Taiwan Strait is not high seas or so-called "international waters." According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and Chinese domestic law, the Taiwan Strait includes China's internal waters, territorial sea, contiguous zone, and exclusive economic zone, and China enjoys sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Strait while also respecting the legitimate rights of other countries in the relevant waters.

This expert stated that the timing of Japan's dispatch of military vessels to pass through the Taiwan Strait on the 131st anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki is no coincidence, revealing the dangerous intentions of some in Japan to intervene militarily in the Taiwan Strait. China has the right to track, warn, and even drive away provocative actions throughout the entire process. “If Japan continues to provoke, China may normalize joint operations of multiple military branches.”

Therefore, the joint combat readiness patrol by the Eastern Theater Command aims to demonstrate the determination and capability to firmly respond to external threats to China's sovereignty and security. According to the Eastern Theater Command, the Japanese destroyer "Rei" passed through the Taiwan Strait from 4:02 to 17:50 on the 17th.

Zhang Junsha analyzed that Japan deliberately chose the early morning hours to send ships into the Taiwan Strait for provocation, and this deliberate avoidance of visibility also conceals its probing intentions. The Eastern Theater Command precisely recorded the sailing time of the Japanese ship, clearly sending a signal to Japan: the Eastern Theater Command has implemented full monitoring and effective regulation of the Japanese military vessel passing through the Taiwan Strait. After entering the Strait, its movements have been completely under our strict surveillance, remaining in a controlled state. Relying on a three-dimensional firepower system of land, sea, and air, the theater forces can effectively control it, and once Japan takes provocative actions, the forces will respond decisively and punish them according to the law as the situation dictates.

From the timing of the actions, the Eastern Theater Command launched the joint combat readiness patrol the day after Japan's provocation, reflecting a state of alertness, rapid emergency response capability, and effective control over the Taiwan Strait. “The PLA has sufficient capability to respond quickly to any provocative actions and maintain the initiative on the ground,” said Zhang Junsha.

Zhang Junsha stated that this action by the Eastern Theater Command is also aimed at curbing Japan's gradual probing and provocations, sending a warning to Japan's right-wing forces.

Previously, Japan had passed through the Taiwan Strait three times, with the times being September 2024, February 2025, and June 2025, evolving from following allied vessels to taking independent actions, which is a typical gradual probing and escalating pressure approach.

“Currently, Japan is promoting constitutional amendments and military expansion, accelerating the pace of 're-militarization.' Its statements and actions regarding the Taiwan issue aim to gradually break through the restrictions of the post-war system and seek military presence in the Taiwan Strait, intervening militarily in the Taiwan issue.” Zhang Junsha emphasized that China will never compromise on this: the strong countermeasures of the Eastern Theater Command are a strategic warning directed at Japan's right-wing forces: China absolutely does not allow history to repeat itself and will not leave any strategic ambiguity regarding 'military intervention in the Taiwan Strait.'