World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Taiwan monitors Chinese live-fire drills along China’s coast
China has announced live-fire drills in five areas along its coast, scheduled to continue through the week.
Taiwan’s Defence Minister Wellington Koo says Taiwan’s military is monitoring the activity closely.
The nearest announced drill area is off China’s Zhejiang province, and none of the five areas is around Taiwan itself.
The drills come days after President Lai Ching-te said Taiwan values peace but will not give up its freedom.
China claims Taiwan as its territory and says its military exercises are meant to deter moves toward Taiwan independence and outside interference.
China has not said this week’s drills are a response to Lai’s speech.
Taiwan says it will keep watching the drills and assessing what the Chinese units are doing.
Taiwan says it is closely monitoring Chinese live-fire and military drills announced for areas along China’s coast.
Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo said the preliminary assessment is that coastal artillery and related units will conduct firing drills.
China’s maritime safety authority issued navigation warnings covering five areas, including waters off Zhejiang, the closest area to Taiwan.
China says its military exercises are intended to deter moves toward Taiwan independence and outside interference.
The drills follow Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s national day speech, which drew criticism from Beijing.
- Who
- Taiwan’s military is monitoring the drills; China announced them.
- What
- China announced live-fire and military drills in areas along its coast. Taiwan says it will closely monitor them.
- When
- The notices say the drills are scheduled for this week. One source says they begin Thursday; another says they begin Monday.
- Where
- Five areas along China’s coast, from the South China Sea to Liaoning; the closest to Taiwan is off Zhejiang.
- Why
- China says the exercises are meant to deter moves toward Taiwan independence and outside interference. Taiwan says the repeated drills create regional uncertainty.
Taiwan
China
Purpose of the drills
Taiwan
Taiwan says it expects coastal units to train and will monitor their activities closely.
China
China says its exercises are intended to deter moves toward Taiwan independence and outside interference.
Impact and context
Taiwan
Taiwan’s defence minister said China’s repeated exercises in the Indo-Pacific create uncertainty in the region.
China
China’s defence ministry said the exercises are justified and safeguard the security and well-being of Taiwanese people.
However, we adhere to the principle of 'anticipating the enemy as broadly as possible', so we will continue to closely monitor their activities, whether firing or military training
The People's Liberation Army's regular training and exercises around Taiwan are meant to deter reckless 'Taiwan independence' moves and outside interference, and to safeguard the security and well-being of the Taiwanese people. This is entirely justified.
Taiwan cherishes peace, but we will not give up our freedom
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te delivered his national day speech, saying Taiwan cherishes peace but will not give up its freedom.
China’s defence ministry said Lai was exaggerating the threat from China and described the military exercises as justified.
Wellington Koo said Taiwan’s military was closely monitoring the announced drills.
- Chinese navigation warnings
- Five areas along China’s coast
- Closest drill area to Taiwan
- Off Zhejiang province
- Taiwan’s defence minister
- Wellington Koo
- Taiwan’s president
- Lai Ching-te
- Chinese exercises
- Scheduled to last all week according to the notices cited by Straits Times
Sources
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