Archive · 12 Oct 2026
Taiwan Monitors Chinese Live-Fire Drills Along Coast
China has announced several military drills along its coast this week.
Taiwan says its military is watching them closely.
Taiwan’s first assessment is that coastal artillery and related units are practicing firing.
Notices tell ships to stay away from five areas, but none are around Taiwan itself.
The nearest drill area is off China’s Zhejiang province.
China says its military activity is meant to discourage moves toward Taiwan independence and outside involvement.
Taiwan’s leaders say the people of Taiwan should decide their own future.
China has not said the drills are linked to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s recent speech.
Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo said Taiwan’s military is monitoring Chinese live-fire drills along China’s coast.
Taiwan’s preliminary assessment is that coastal artillery and related units are conducting firing drills.
China’s maritime safety agency announced no-sail notices for five areas, from the South China Sea to Liaoning; none were around Taiwan.
The notices said the drills would last all week, with the closest area to Taiwan off Zhejiang province.
China described its regular military activity around Taiwan as justified deterrence, while Taiwan says Beijing has no right to decide the island’s future.
- Who
- Taiwan’s military, led in its public response by Defence Minister Wellington Koo, is monitoring Chinese military drills.
- What
- A series of Chinese live-fire drills and associated no-sail notices along China’s coast.
- When
- The drills are scheduled to last all week; the report is dated October 12.
- Where
- Five designated areas from the South China Sea to Liaoning, including an area off Zhejiang nearest to Taiwan; none are around Taiwan itself.
- Why
- China says its regular exercises around Taiwan deter moves toward independence and outside interference; it has not explicitly linked these drills to Lai Ching-te’s speech.
Taiwan’s position
China’s position
Purpose of military activity
Taiwan’s position
Taiwan says it is monitoring the drills and will continue watching the activity broadly, whether it involves firing or other training.
China’s position
China says its regular exercises around Taiwan deter reckless independence moves and outside interference, and safeguard Taiwanese people’s security and well-being.
Taiwan’s political future
Taiwan’s position
Lai Ching-te says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future and that Beijing has no right to claim the island.
China’s position
China regards Taiwan as its own territory and describes Lai as a separatist.
- Taiwan official
- Defence Minister Wellington Koo said the military is monitoring the activity.
- Taiwan’s initial assessment
- Firing drills by coastal artillery and related units.
- No-sail areas
- Five areas were announced, stretching from the South China Sea to Liaoning.
- Closest area to Taiwan
- Off China’s eastern province of Zhejiang.
- Scheduled duration
- The notices said the drills would last all week.
- China’s stated rationale
- Deterring what it calls Taiwan independence moves and outside interference.
- Taiwan’s position
- Lai Ching-te says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future, and Beijing has no right to claim the island.