演训正式开始！

The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army on Thursday conducted large-scale military exercises and training activities including live-fire drills around Taiwan island.

实战演训为何定于4日开始？

国防大学教授孟祥青表示，按照国际惯例，实弹演练至少需要提前24小时预告。主要考虑在实战演训中船舶撤离，以及航线做出调整，确保不伤及平民。

为何选择环岛六大区域？

孟祥青教授认为，此次实战演训选择环岛六大区域，范围广、靠岛近、力度大、要素全。此次六大区域是最接近台湾岛的演训区域，对台岛形成了包围之势，有利于重新塑造统一的战略格局。

Meng Xiangqing, a professor at the PLA National Defense University, said the PLA’s military operations around Taiwan are “groundbreaking, powerful, effective and targeted” as shown in their widest-ever range and closest-ever proximity to Taiwan.

“The six exercise zones, which are much closer to the island compared with previous PLA exercises near Taiwan, would establish a circle of blockade and deterrence,” he said, noting that joint besieging maneuvers will take place during the exercises.

“The zone to the northwest of Taiwan is located in the center of the narrowest part of the Taiwan Straits, while the zones to the east and southwest of Taiwan face Hualien, Taitung and Kaohsiung, which are home to the island’s major military bases. Those can be very effective deterrence,” Meng said.

“The other zones also can obviously blockade key locations — the two zones in the northeast are near the key Keelung port and the one in the south lies in the entrance to the Bashi Channel.”