Xi Jinping’s visit highlights key role of PLA Rocket Force in Taiwan strategy

Last week, Xi inspected a People’s Liberation Army brigade stationed in the southeastern province of Anhui, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

It was the first reported visit to a Rocket Force unit since 2016 and footage from the visit showed a number of nuclear-capable missiles which commentators said could be used to target warships or military bases.

The visit took place just three days after the joint military exercise Sword-2024B, which involved air, land and naval forces as well as the Rocket Force.

The exercises came days after a speech by Taiwanese leader William Lai Ching-te, in which he said Beijing had no authority to represent the island.

A day after the exercise, Xi visited Dongshan County, an island in Fujian Province opposite Taiwan.