Taiwan’s military has raised the alert level to “high,” saying China restricted its airspace and deployed dozens of warships and coastguard vessels in waters around the island.
In a statement, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) disclosed that it launched combat readiness drills and set up an emergency centre “factoring in enemy threats” in response to Beijing’s latest moves.
The ministry said its forces had identified PLA Eastern, Northern, and Southern Theater Command naval formations, along with Coast Guard vessels, entering areas around the Taiwan Strait and the Western Pacific.
Since the weekend, Taipei has been flagging the presence of 14 Chinese warships, seven military aircraft and at least four balloons, amid speculations of a possible military drill by Beijing.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry said that six of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial demarcation zone between Taiwan and China. One of the balloons also brushed over the island’s northern tip, it added.
A Taipei security source told a news agency that China currently has nearly 90 navy and coastguard ships in waters near Taiwan, the southern Japanese islands and the East and South China Seas, of which about two-thirds are navy vessels.
On Monday, Taiwan noted that China had set up seven zones of reserved airspace to the east of its eastern Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.
According to international rules, such zones are temporarily reserved and allocated for a particular user during a set period, though other flights can pass through with permission from controllers.
Taiwan’s Defense Ministry asserted that any “unilateral and irrational, provocative actions” could seriously damage peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific and that will not be welcomed by the international community.
It added that the PLA’s recent activities near Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Taiwan have introduced “risks and uncertainties to regional security.”
There was no immediate public announcement by the Chinese state media about increased military activity around Taiwan.
However, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Mao Ning said in a statement that China would “firmly defend” its sovereignty, as Taiwan kicked off its drills.
She added that Taiwan was an “inalienable” part of China.
Tensions Follow Taiwanese President’s Recent Trip
Tensions have escalated in recent days following Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-te’s recent visit to Pacific allies, which included stops in the United States state of Hawaii and its territory of Guam.
Taiwan’s coast guard disclosed that it had detected “unusual movements” of seven Chinese coast guard ships since early Friday — the day Lai returned to Taipei.
Lai spoke with Republican US House Speaker Mike Johnson in Guam on Thursday — the highest-level US contact the Taiwanese leader had during a week-long trip — which drew a barrage of criticism from Beijing.
In response to a question about possible Chinese military drills around Taiwan following his trip, Mr Lai told reporters on Friday, “Raising your fists is not as good as opening your hands.”
“No matter how many military exercises, warships and aircraft China sends to coerce neighbouring countries, it cannot win the respect of any country.”
William Lai Ching-te
Taiwan faces the constant threat of a military attack by China and relies heavily on US arms sales to boost its defences.
The US, like most countries, does not recognise Taiwan as a country but is its main unofficial backer and sells it arms.
China has launched two large-scale military drills around Taiwan since Lai took office and regularly deploys fighter jets and navy ships to press its claims over the island.
Lai has been more outspoken than his predecessor Tsai Ing-wen in defending Taiwan’s sovereignty, angering Beijing, which calls him a “separatist.”
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