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Here are the 10 breakthroughs in China's 2022 Taiwan military drill
A missile is launched during a military drill, China, August 4, 2022. /CFP

A missile is launched during a military drill, China, August 4, 2022. /CFP

The visit by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan has turned many Chinese people into military fans, as China took unprecedented military actions to protect its territorial integrity.

The military drill in early August made 10 breakthroughs in the history of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), according to "Yuyuan Tantian," a Chinese social media outlet affiliated with China Media Group.

1. PLA Navy approached Taiwan coastline

Ten Chinese warships conducted a real combat-oriented drill near the country's Taiwan island on August 5.

Photos of the drill taken by the PLA Eastern Theater Command showed that the coastline and mountains on the island are clearly visible on a warship.

This action has meant that Taiwan is a part of China, and it's normal for a PLA Navy fleet to sail in China's own territorial sea.

A PLA Navy soldier watches Taiwan island with a binocle during a military drill, August 5, 2022. /CMG

A PLA Navy soldier watches Taiwan island with a binocle during a military drill, August 5, 2022. /CMG

2. PLA Air Force saw Taiwan coastline with naked eyes

The PLA also dispatched warplanes in the same drill. The pilots reported that they could see the coastline and mountains on the island with naked eyes.

This, like the warship drill, implied that the so-called "Taiwan's territorial air space" by the separatists makes no real sense.

3. PLA missiles flew over Taiwan

The PLA launched multiple types of missiles toward Taiwan island, which for the first time flew across the island and hit the targets in the sea.

"Speaking in this way may be easier for the separatists to understand," said Yuyuan Tantian.

A missile is launched during a military drill, China, August 4, 2022. /CFP

A missile is launched during a military drill, China, August 4, 2022. /CFP

4. J-20 participated in Taiwan military drill

China's latest type of fight jet, the J-20, debuted in a Taiwan-related military drill.

Yuyuan Tantian said the jet broke the U.S. monopoly in stealth fight jet, filling up the generation gap between the PLA Air Force and the world's best air forces.

"This drill was a small test for the J-20 but it put a major psychological pressure on the Taiwan separatists," added Yuyuan Tantian.

5. No 'median line' of Taiwan Straits

The so-called "median line" in the Taiwan Straits exists only in the imagination of separatists, said Yuyuan Taitian.

Before the drill began, China issued a warning to ships and aircraft that six areas around Taiwan would be targeted, among which five are on the eastern side of the so-called“median line," with the sixth one laid across it.

"The drill has meant that China has full control of the Taiwan Straits," said Yuyuan Tantian. "Military training on the eastern side of the line will become a normal in the near future."

A map showing the areas of the military drill. /CGTN

A map showing the areas of the military drill. /CGTN

6. The closest drill to the island

One of the six targets of the drill is only 20 kilometers away from the Taiwan island, marking the drill the closest of its kind to Taiwan.

A J-20 can fly 20 km in less than half a minute.

7. No outside interference

The PLA tried to repel foreign interference during the drill on August 4, according to the Eastern Theater Command.

One of the drill areas was set to the northeast of Taiwan, close to Okinawa controlled by Japan.

If the U.S. and Japan want to interfere with China's unifying process, they will dispatch warplanes from the military base in Okinawa, Yuyuan Tantian said, quoting an unnamed military source.

And another area was in the Bashi Channel, blocking the access to Taiwan from the South China Sea.

8. No escape paths

A drill area was set to the east of the island for the first time, locking the escape paths of the Taiwan separatists.

With this new area blocked, the island was surrounded by the PLA, leaving no way to run.

9. First deterrence drill with aircraft carrier

The PLA also dispatched aircraft carrier formations to carry out the deterrence missions, which was the first time in the army's history.

Nuclear submarines usually move with the carriers during such missions, said Zhang Junshe, a researcher at the PLA Naval Research Academy.

10. An all-out drill by PLA forces

For the first time in 2022, the PLA went all out with all five types of forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force and Strategic Support Force.

The army also sent out all weapon types including aircraft carriers, fighter jets, long-range rocket systems and missiles.

Additionally, they also carried out all kinds of missions like joint blockade, deterrence, and actions against ground, sea, air targets.

"All of this made it clear," said Yuyuan Tantian, "that China's reunification must and will be achieved."

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