Taiwan Conducts Military Exercises in Response to Chinese Warships

taipei - Taiwan has raised its military readiness and started military exercises in response to the presence of Chinese warships near the island and restrictions imposed in Chinese airspace.

Taiwan has put its military on heightened alert and initiated military exercises following the sighting of Chinese warships and coast guard vessels around the island and the implementation of restrictions in Chinese airspace, the Ministry of Defense reported.

The exercises to test combat readiness are taking place at strategic locations. At the same time, naval and coast guard vessels are monitoring Chinese military activities. A source within Taiwanese security services stated that China currently has nearly ninety naval and coast guard vessels in the waters near Taiwan, the southern Japanese islands, the East China Sea, and the South China Sea.

The Taiwanese Ministry of Defense stated that the Chinese military has temporarily imposed restrictions in seven zones in the airspace east of the Fujian and Zhejiang provinces, near Taiwan. These restrictions are valid from Monday to Wednesday. According to international rules, such zones are temporarily assigned to specific users. Other flights may only pass through the area with permission.

There is widespread speculation about the possibility of China starting military exercises in response to the recent visit of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te to the United States and islands in the Pacific Ocean. Beijing reacted angrily to that trip. Taiwan has been independently governed for decades, but China views the island as a renegade province that must be reunited one day. Beijing therefore regularly exerts pressure on Taipei, both politically and militarily.