Taiwan Says It Is Monitoring Chinese Live-Fire Drills at Five Coastal Locations This Week
Taiwan is closely monitoring a series of live-fire exercises China has been holding along its coast since October 8, Defence Minister Wellington Koo told lawmakers on Monday, adding that Taipei is prepared for more targeted drills. Chinese maritime authorities have issued temporary no-navigation notices for five locations spread along a broad stretch of coast from the South China Sea to Liaoning in the north, Koo said, with the closest exercise zone off Zhejiang province — though none of the zones are around Taiwan itself.
Taiwan's defence ministry on October 11 criticised Beijing for “weaponising” the airspace around the Taiwan Strait, calling it the greatest source of regional instability. The drills follow President Lai Ching-te's October 10 National Day address, in which he pledged to accelerate construction of the “T-Dome” air defence system and raise defence spending. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, holds exercises in the waters and airspace around the island from time to time. (Source: Reuters)
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 火箭炮实弹射击资料图，公有领域（Wikimedia Commons）
