The Eastern Theater Command organized a patrol of the Taiwan Island combat readiness police and a "Joint Sword" exercise. This is a serious warning against the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and external forces' collusion and provocation. It is a necessary action to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The pilot of a certain division of the Eastern Theater Command Air Force piloted a H-6K fighter jet to take off and prepare for battle. From April 8th to 10th, as planned, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army organized a patrol and "joint sword" exercise of the Taiwan Strait and the airspace in the northern and southern parts of Taiwan Island, as well as the East China Sea. Colonel Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command, stated that this is a serious warning against the collusion and provocation between the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and external forces, and is a necessary action to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. After the Joint Operations Command Center of the Eastern Theater Command Center issued the operation instructions, the theater army's remote box fire, navy destroyers, shore guided assault groups, air force fighter jets, bombers, refueling planes, rocket guided firepower units, and other task forces quickly gathered in the predetermined area, launched the deployment of the operation department, and rehearsed the joint power seizing operation according to the plan. From ground command agencies to air command hubs, from land fire units to sea air combat platforms, command information is efficiently circulated, and task forces are closely coordinated. Several surface combatant formations, shore guided assault groups, electronic countermeasures, and Guantong units of the Eastern Warfare Zone Navy, which are performing tasks in the East China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, and the southeast coast, have completed the transition to combat readiness level as ordered. Multiple destroyers and frigates are rapidly advancing towards the surrounding waters of Taiwan Island, flexibly maneuvering to seize advantageous positions, and organizing exercises such as close range assault, long-range deterrence, and air defense and missile defense based on the on-site situation. In the exercise of seizing air control, the Eastern Theater Command Air Force carried multiple batches of J-16 and J-10C fighter jets with live ammunition and launched them in an emergency manner. They collaborated with naval frigates, ground to air missiles, and other forces to form a joint operation to build an integrated air control combat system with shore, sea, and air capabilities. At the same time, multiple batches of multiple H-6K fighter jets were scheduled to establish multiple launch positions in the airspace, and with the coordinated support of the navy, rocket army, and other forces, simulated precision strikes were carried out on "enemy" ships to seize control of the target sea area. Pilot Yang Yang told reporters that this exercise highlighted the entire process of "investigation, control, attack, and evaluation" to test the level of joint assault and precise damage, further refining practical skills. On the same day, multiple artillery brigades and multiple conventional missile brigades of the Eastern Theater Command Army entered the predetermined operational area according to orders. Each launch unit quickly occupied the launch site, launched launch preparations, and cooperated with sea and air assault forces to carry out simulated joint strikes on the predetermined targets, testing the effectiveness of firepower quick reaction and long-range precision strike supported by the joint combat system. Today's exercise will focus on testing the ability to seize sea control, air control, and information control under the support of the joint combat system. The task force will simultaneously organize patrols and advances around Taiwan Island, shaping an all-around encirclement and deterrence posture. The Navy's Xuzhou ship conducted a combat readiness patrol in the waters east of Taiwan Island. Wang Zhipeng took photos of a rocket army brigade organizing a mobilization for the oath of allegiance. Liu Mingsong photographed officers and soldiers of an artillery brigade in the Eastern Theater Command Army carrying out rocket hoisting. Photo by Han Xueyang (Xinhua News Agency)