Taiwan has held combat-readiness drills involving its air force and army, featuring weapon systems acquired from the United States, amid China’s threat to the self-ruled island.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Why It Matters
The Chinese Communist Party has claimed Taiwan, which lies approximately 80 miles off China’s mainland, as part of its territory, despite never having governed the island. President Xi Jinping has made clear that China would not renounce the use of force, reserving the option of taking all measures necessary to achieve national reunification.
As part of efforts to pressure Taiwan, which has received U.S. military support through arms sales under American legislation, the Chinese military has maintained a presence around the island through daily force deployments and large-scale, live-fire exercises, with the most recent drill—simulating blockade tactics—conducted in late December.
The Pentagon assessed that China “expects to be able to fight and win a war on Taiwan by the end of 2027.” The U.S. National Security Strategy stated that deterring a conflict over Taiwan is a priority, requiring a military buildup capable of denying aggression.
What To Know
Taiwan’s Military News Agency reported that units assigned to the island’s air force and army conducted exercises on Tuesday ahead of the Lunar New Year, demonstrating their combat readiness and ability to respond immediately to emergencies and threats.
During the army’s exercise, which focused on preventing sudden enemy attacks, troops simulated the employment of the U.S.-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher system, capable of striking targets up to 186 miles away, for long-range precision fire support.
According to the report, the drill also featured other army hardware, including surface-launched missiles, helicopters, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The 10th Army Corps said it continuously improves training amid the “rapidly changing nature” of threats.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese F-16 fighter jets, of which the island has procured more than 200 from Lockheed Martin, conducted an emergency takeoff exercise to showcase their ability to maintain around-the-clock readiness to address threats to the island’s airspace.
A Taiwanese air force officer said an emergency scramble is initiated if enemy or unidentified aircraft are detected entering Taiwan’s airspace or crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, with fighter jets required to be launched within a limited time.
On Wednesday, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported that China conducted four sorties of military aircraft and five naval vessels around the island in the past 24 hours, while a balloon was detected crossing the Taiwan Strait and approaching northern Taiwan.
What People Are Saying
Taiwan’s 10th Army Corps said: “During the Lunar New Year, all officers and soldiers will continue to stand firm at their posts and work hard to prepare for combat, ensuring that the people of the country can enjoy the holiday safely.”
Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense, said: “The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair. How to resolve it is a matter for the Chinese, which brooks no interference from external forces. For us, to deal with the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces is like catching a turtle in a jar, and all options that can punish the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces remain on the table.”
What Happens Next
China is expected to continue asserting military pressure on Taiwan. It remains to be seen how Taiwan will further enhance its defense posture through additional weapons orders from the U.S.
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