Taiwan Holds Military Drills as Tensions Escalate With China , #Taiwan #Holds #Military #Drills #Tensions #Escalate #China Welcome to O L A S M E D I A TV N E W S, This is what we have for you today:
TAIPEI—Taiwan’s president told a gathering of U.S. senators and former U.S., Australian and Japanese defense ministers that a coordinated response was necessary in the face of “unprecedented challenges” as the island conducted a five-day flurry of military and civilian preparedness exercises.
Formally known as the Han Kuang exercises, Taiwan’s annual military drills have taken on a greater significance amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which have contributed to rising concerns in the West that China could attack Taiwan. China’s Communist Party, which claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory, has vowed to take control of it—by force, if necessary.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen drew parallels between the threats from Russia and China on Tuesday, when she was speaking to guests via videoconference at a regional security forum, which included three members of Congress, former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, two former Australian defense ministers and two former Japanese defense ministers.
“Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine has shown us that authoritarian regimes will not hesitate to violate the sovereignty of other states,” Ms. Tsai said in a prerecorded address.
Donning military uniform and a camouflage-style mask, Ms Tsai boarded a guided-missile destroyer on Tuesday to inspect a joint drill involving nearly two dozen naval ships and 15 aircraft, the marquee event in a display of military might aimed at highlighting the island’s intensified deterrence efforts.
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen appeared aboard a navy ship on Tuesday during the self-ruled island’s annual military exercises, in this image released by her office.
Photo:
Shioro Lee/Associated Press
Tensions have escalated in recent days around a potential trip to Taiwan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi—which, if it were to go forward, would be the first such trip by a U.S. House speaker in more than a quarter-century.
President Biden said last week that the U.S. military was concerned about the trip, while in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Monday that China was well prepared for a possible trip by Mrs. Pelosi. Mr. Biden is separately expected to speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week, plans that he reiterated again Monday.
“If there is any hope of deterring war with China, and protecting our Taiwanese friends, we will need strategic clarity. Strong rhetoric, however, will do only so much,” Sen. Roger Wicker (R., Miss.) said Tuesday in a prerecorded remarks, calling for more American defense funding and strong military capabilities from its Indo-Pacific allies to dissuade Beijing aggression.
Over the past two years, China has sent military aircraft on an almost daily basis, part of what officials in Taipei describe as “gray-zone” tactics designed to probe and exhaust the island’s defenses. According to a Wall Street Journal tally of the activity based on figures released by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry, China has flown more than 600 sorties this year so far, a 67% jump from the same period last year.
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces on Monday said it spotted a Chinese attack drone passing through its islands of Okinawa and Miyakojima and heading near Taiwan.
In Taipei, Vincent Chao, who previously headed the political division at Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Washington, D.C., said he didn’t sense any increased anxiety among government officials around the potential visit from Mrs. Pelosi. “From Taiwan’s perspective, we would obviously welcome this visit, as we would welcome any high-level engagement between Taiwan and the United States,” said Mr. Chao.
People waited at a metro exit during an air-raid drill in Taipei on Monday.
Photo:
ANN WANG/REUTERS
On Monday, several cities in northern Taiwan kicked off another set of annual civil defense exercises known as Wan An, which municipal authorities in Taipei said were extended this year given heightened concerns around Ukraine and the possibility of cross-strait tensions.
Roads that were usually teeming with traffic were empty for about half an hour as pedestrians, drivers and passengers were evacuated to nearby air-raid shelters under the blare of sirens. Mock missile alerts were sent via text message.
“Situated in the capital, the city of Taipei will bear the brunt of airstrikes. It is hoped to raise citizen’s awareness of crisis and distress through all-out drills, letting people understand that they need to prepare for a war,” the city government said on its website.
With the military and civilian preparedness exercises scheduled to end Friday, more joint combat readiness drills were planned across the island throughout the week, simulating how the Taiwanese military would defend an amphibious landing off beaches, as well as displaying some of its broadcasting armored vehicles to address psychological warfare capabilities.
“Across the board in East Asia, there’s a lot of activity at this point of time,” said Chong Ja Ian, who teaches political science at National University of Singapore, noting other joint military exercises conducted by other U.S. allies such as Japan and India in the Indo-Pacific region. “That is indicative of this increased tensions between China on the one side and the U.S. and its allies and partners on the other.”
Write to Joyu Wang at joyu.wang@wsj.com
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