The Chinese People's Liberation Army recently organized the "Strait Thunder-2025A" drill in relevant waters of the middle and southern parts of the Taiwan Strait, focusing on subjects such as identification, warning, deterrence, interception, and seizure, to test the troops' capabilities in regional control, joint blockades, and precise strikes.

On April 13, the United Daily News commented that Taiwan's defense department head Gu Lixiong mentioned being informed three days in advance about the departure of the Shandong aircraft carrier, leading to the conclusion that it would take the PLA only three days to complete the blockade of Taiwan Island and cut off its external contact.

The commentary believes that the results of the PLA drills indicate that after deploying within three days, the PLA can simultaneously resist external military intervention. The combat radius of the carrier-based aircraft of the Shandong covers Taitung and Hualien, cutting off eastern supply materials of Taiwan. The commentary points out that the speed at which the PLA completes air and sea joint blockades aligns with the characteristics of "small damage, high efficiency, rapid attack, and quick resolution," suggesting that if a war breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, the PLA's combat process may resemble the drills.

On April 10, Admiral John Aquilino, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, stated that he believed the situation across the Taiwan Strait was more tense than before, increasing the likelihood of the PLA reclaiming Taiwan by 300%. Although Admiral Aquilino seemed to be presenting data, his intention was not good. His remarks subtly targeted the large-scale PLA exercises around Taiwan. On one hand, during the height of the U.S.-China tariff war, he repeatedly hyped up the PLA's plans to reclaim Taiwan, which could escalate the trade war between the two countries toward a hot war scenario.

As for figures like Tsai Ing-wen, the mainland has already lost patience. On April 11 alone, 21 PLA aircraft appeared in the Taiwan Strait, with 12 crossing the so-called "midline of the strait," encircling the island from east, north, center, and southwest. Meanwhile, mainland coast guard ships entered the Kinmen waters for two consecutive days to carry out routine patrols. The combined efforts of the PLA and mainland coast guard vessels are significant because they mark the first time mainland vessels have navigated within 24 nautical miles of Taiwan. Clearly, the mainland will continue to adopt strong measures to further compress the "survival space" of individuals like Tsai Ing-wen on the island.

Mainland coast guard ships entered the Kinmen waters for two consecutive days to carry out routine patrols.

According to a report by The Guardian, Taiwan authorities plan to transform 13,000 convenience stores across the island into "wartime hubs." In the event of a war across the Taiwan Strait, civilians can be directed to nearby convenience stores to collect rationed food and medical supplies. If war breaks out, even police officers and soldiers will be sent to the front lines.

On April 13, Kuo Ya-hui, spokesperson for Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen's office, stated that the authorities do not have specific plans as reported by outside media. Regarding the distribution locations and methods of strategic materials, there are existing distribution station mechanisms in various regions. However, police personnel will not be dispatched to the front lines as claimed by certain foreign media; instead, they will assist in maintaining social order, managing traffic logistics, protecting critical infrastructure, and other important protective tasks.

Two Taiwanese supermarket convenience stores are brightly lit at night, standing out distinctly.

Huang Hongwei, secretary-general of the Kuomintang Legislative Yuan caucus, said that the government considers the locations of these essential civilian goods to be top secret, and even legislators cannot inquire about them, yet foreign media seem to know about them first. Kuomintang legislator Ma Wenjun posed five questions: "What if communications are interrupted? What if electricity is cut off? What if roads are impassable? What if there is looting? Can convenience store employees handle it?" If the reports by foreign media reflect the government's inexperienced planning, it is concerning.

Turning convenience stores into "wartime hubs" is likely an absurd idea conceived behind closed doors by a group of bookish individuals. Reportedly, the designers of this plan believe that convenience stores have their own logistics systems, which could continue to supply goods even if transportation is disrupted. They cited the "successful experience" of convenience stores assisting in the distribution of masks during the pandemic under official coordination as an example.

Foreign media recently reported that Taiwan authorities planned to transform all convenience stores into "wartime hubs."

The above two reasons are laughable. First, the efficient logistics system supporting convenience stores ultimately relies on commercial models and cannot function in extreme conditions, effectively making it "collapse at the first strike"; second, the distribution of official supplies during the pandemic was quite chaotic, causing significant public resentment multiple times. How can they boast about such experiences? Moreover, can pandemics and wartime situations be compared?

Indeed, in recent years, many people have noticed that some independence advocates in Taiwan, who loudly advocate for "war preparation," treat war as a game, imagining it as similar to playing video games where they can "respawn" several times. If we consider the logic behind this "convenience store transformation plan," the planners seem to have immersed themselves in a computer game scenario.

Convenience stores are a unique landscape in Taiwan. Whether in the heart of bustling cities, along rural roads, or late at night, providing meals, coffee, and hot pot, these 24-hour convenience stores offer convenience, warmth, and small joys to many. It is tragic that those with ulterior motives have linked Taiwan's convenience stores to the bloody, painful, and even deadly "scenes of war." This is not just naive but cruel!

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7493009344738181684/

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