Beijing: China has carried out large scale live fire military exercises around Taiwan, sharply raising tensions across the Taiwan Strait and drawing strong reactions from Taipei.
China’s military said the drills involved its army navy air force and rocket forces in coordinated operations around the island. The exercises included live firing and combat readiness patrols and covered several areas in the sea and airspace surrounding Taiwan. Temporary restrictions were imposed on civilian air and sea traffic during the drills.
Beijing described the exercises as a serious warning against Taiwan independence forces and what it called external interference. Chinese officials said the drills were meant to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The exercises followed recent developments including closer military cooperation between Taiwan and the United States.
Taiwan strongly condemned the drills, calling them provocative and a threat to peace and stability in the region. Taiwan’s defence ministry said its armed forces were placed on high alert and carried out response drills to monitor Chinese movements and protect the island’s security. Officials in Taipei stressed that Taiwan is fully capable of defending its democracy and way of life.
The exercises are among the most extensive conducted by China around Taiwan in recent months. Military analysts say the scale and coordination suggest a clear signal from Beijing, aimed not only at Taiwan but also at countries that support the island.
Despite the heightened military activity, daily life in Taiwan continued largely as normal, and financial markets showed limited immediate reaction. However, the drills have increased concerns across East Asia about the risk of miscalculation and further escalation.
China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control. Taiwan rejects this claim and says its future can only be decided by its people. The latest drills underline the growing strain in cross strait relations and the fragile security environment in the region.