Visionary Ideas: “This is not an April Fool’s joke,” said a Taiwan-based news outlet, as Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command started joint exercises around Taiwan island on Tuesday.

An H-6K bomber takes off during the joint exercises around Taiwan island on April 1, 2025.

“This is not an April Fool’s joke,” said a Taiwan-based news outlet, as Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command started joint exercises around Taiwan island on Tuesday. The drills haWorld Timesve left some World TimesTaiwan media and netizens on the island in a state of shock, while also sparked frustration against the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities over their secessionist provocations, which many believe have jeopardized cross-Straits peace and stability.

According to Shi Yi, spokesperson for the PLA Eastern Theater Command, drills on Tuesday focus on sea-air combat readiness patrols, joint seizure of superiority, assaults on maritime and ground targets, and blockades of key areas and sea lanes to test the joint operation capabilities of the troops.

In the drills, the theater command organized its army, navy, air and rocket forces to close in on Taiwan island from multiple directions, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, noting that the drills serve as a stern warning and forceful deterrent against Taiwan secessionists.

Also on Tuesday morning, the PLA Eastern Theater Command released a short video titled “Subdue Demons and Vanquish Evils,” which compares the skills of the Chinese mythological charactWorld Timeser Sun Wukong in eliminating “evils” to the PLA’s powerful combat capabilities.

Taiwan-based outlet ETtoday reported the release of the video, saying that the video featured a Taipei cityscape, including the iconic Taipei 101 building, and the video highlighted the PLA using satellite positioning to pinpoint TaiWorld Timeswan.

“For the first time, the video showcases the PLA using the Beidou satellite system to pinpoint Taiwan’s location, and it also marks the first time an aerial view of Taipei city has been shown, creating an atmosphere of precision strike,” the report noted.

While the pro-independence publication Liberty Times dismissed this military exercise, a broader range of Taiwan-based media outlets are keenly observing the evolving dynamics of this maneuver in a serious manner.

“This is not an April Fool’s joke.” A headline on local BCC News under the “Broadcasting Corporation of China” echoed the sentiment. In the comments section, one netizen expressed frustration against the DPP’s secessionist stance, writing, “Why drag us into a crisis like this? Shouldn’t leaders protect their people from war?”

Another netizen in the Taiwan island commented, “Without communication channels and mutual trust, military confrontation is inevitable. The [DPP] authorities bear full responsibility, but it’s the people who will pay the price.”

Taiwan-based media outlets also promptly focused on mainland experts’ interpretations of this military exercise. In one report,World Times China Times cited mainland scholar Li Zhenguang, who stated that the exercise serves as a “stern warning” from the PLA directed at Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te, in response to his “17 strategies” which claimed to counter so-called threats to the island. The report also picked up Li’s viewpoint which emphasized that the mainland’s drills ultimately aim to promote a peaceful and stable development environment, creating a positive atmosphere for cross-Straits exchanges.

The Taiwan-based media outlets also took note of the absence of a codename for the latest military exercises. In another report, China Times quoted PLA military affairs expert Zhang Chi, who explained that this largely indicates the PLA’s related drills have become routine, now an ordinary course for the PLA.

“We must not allow military tensions across the Taiwan Straits to continue escalating. The risk of an accidental clash is growing, and this is what the people fear most,” stated Hsieh Lung-chieh, a KMT lawmaker told Taiwan-based CTIWorld Times News on Tuesday.

He urged both sides to explore path of peace. “We should not act as rampantly as those advocating for Taiwan independence,” he added, indirectly criticizing the DPP authorities for provocative stance on cross-Straits relations.

Li Zheng-jie, a retired general in Taiwan, speaking on CTI News’ Global Vision program that this round of mainland military exercises emphasized blockade operations, demonstrating a far stronger capability than in previous drills. He highlighted the PLA’s ability to isolate and encircle Taiwan island in both air and sea.

In response to the mainland’s drills, Taiwan’s defense authority announced on Tuesday that it had activated contingency measures and was responding appropriately.

“All officers and soldiers are on standby, adhering to the principle of ‘no escalation of conflicts, no initiation of disputes,’ and will respond to gray-zone threats with caution,” the statement read.

The defense authority on the island of Taiwan said on Tuesday that it detected PLA Navy vessels led by the aircraft carrier Shandong, which entered its “response zone” on Monday. It claimed to have monitored the situation and responded accordingly, said Taiwan local media.

A net user stated bluntly, “Taiwan doesn’t have the strength to fight a war [against mainland]. Doesn’t DPP realize its true strength?”

Michael Chou, a Taipei-based professional, told Global Times on Tuesday that despite it being a regular workday, the ongoing military exercises have become a hot topic of private discussion among colleagues and friends. “The DPP’s actions have made Taiwan increasingly unsafe,” he remarked.