Seizing Power
At around 0805 Friday morning, China announced the start of Day 2 of Joint Sword 2024-A. The exercises started with an announcement from China’s Eastern Theater Command (ETC) which clarified that Day 2 would “test [China’s] ability to jointly seize power and carry out joint strikes”.
An hour later, Taiwan’s National Defense Ministry (MND) released its daily 0900 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) activity report. Not too much was different than the updated report sent Thursday at 2000. However, the number of ships did change.
Thursday’s report: 49 aircraft, 35 in ADIZ, 16 PLAN ships, 19 CCG ships.
Friday’s report: 49 aircraft, 35 in ADIZ, 19 PLAN ships, 7 CCG ships.
A decrease in the number of CCG ships could be because the MND does not include ship activity around the outlying islands in the 0900 report but further confirmation is needed.
China Continues Encirclement Drills
Along with the ADIZ report, Taiwan’s MND also released a series of images capturing PLAN ships operating around Taiwan’s main island.
Taiwan’s military added that it had scrambled aircraft to help monitor the situation.
At around 1145 China’s Coast Guard posted on its social media, announcing that it had conducted law enforcement drills in waters east of Taiwan.
At roughly 1200 Taiwan’s MND provided more footage showing how it was responding to China’s drills. These pictures and videos come from aboard ROCS Kee Lung (DDG-1801).
Both videos above, Source: Ministry of National Defense.
Taiwan’s military also revealed how its ground forces were responding, as there were reports of various missile defense systems deployed. Some could even be seen out in the open at a public park.
This video shows a domestically-made Tien Kung III missile defense system. (Audio Warning)
Taiwan’s navy also deployed its mobile Hsiung Feng III missile launchers, these are part of the Hai Feng Coastal Defense Team, which is deployed in several areas around Taiwan.
Here is a video of the trucks moving out from their facility.
Another video shows the trucks in position and other vehicles providing security.
Taiwan’s military then released footage of one of its F-16s taking off. BUT it is important to note the lack of urgency here, this video seems more for the media.
Taiwan’s navy also dispatched a UAV to monitor Chinese naval activity, here is a video showing part of the surveillance mission.
Taiwan’s Coast Guard on Alert
At 1500, Taiwan’s Coast Guard released a statement denouncing China’s actions, adding that the military exercises obstruct peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
The Coast Guard also released an update of the total number of Coast Guard ships operating in the area:
Taiwan: 7 ships, 1 vessel, 22 boats.
China: 20 ships, 2 vessels, 83 boats.
Throughout the drills, Taiwan’s Coast Guard was intercepting both Chinese Coast Guard and Naval ships. Here is a video of Taiwan’s Coast Guard patrol vessel Bali (CG606) intercepting China's PLAN Yiyang (FFG-548) Type 054A frigate.
Bali is the white ship, Yiyang is grey.
A PLAN Type 815 electronic surveillance ship was also spotted operating about 28nm from Orchid Island.
Defense Ministry Update
At 2140, Taiwan’s military provided a final update on PLA activity around the main island.
62 PLA aircraft were detected operating around Taiwan, 47 of which crossed the median line/ADIZ.
A total of 27 Naval and CCG ships were also detected operating in the region.
Below is Saturday’s 0900 PLA activity report which shows no difference. It seems that the 27 ships previously reported were all PLAN.
Taiwan’s military stated that PLAAF aircraft operating around the main island included Su-30, J-16, H-6, and KJ-500s.
Taiwan’s F-16s scrambled to intercept some of these planes. Here is the view from the targeting pod of an ROCAF F-16 as it tracks a PLAAF an H-6 bomber (1st video) and a J-16 fighter jet (2nd video).
Source: Ministry of National Defense
Conclusion
Here are the final numbers for Joint Sword 2024-A:
PLA Aircraft in total: 111
PLA Aircraft breaching median line/ADIZ: 82
PLAN vessels tracked: 46* (this number is still awaiting confirmation)
CCG vessels: At least 7* (this number is still awaiting confirmation)
End Day 2 of 2.