Taipei, July 9 (AP) – On Wednesday, Taiwan commenced its annual military exercises aimed at countering potential Chinese threats, including the use of “gray zone tactics” that stop just short of an outright war.
This year’s Han Guang drills span 10 days, marking their longest duration yet, and feature a range of newly acquired weaponry such as tanks and unmanned waterborne drones. The exercises arrive amidst escalating regional tensions and ongoing harassment by China and its People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
China stakes a claim on Taiwan, asserting it as a territory to be annexed by force if necessary. However, most Taiwanese favor full independence or wish to maintain their current de-facto independent status.
The drills kicked off with maneuvers aimed at addressing the operations of Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels, which have been reportedly harassing Taiwanese ships near offshore island groups close to the Chinese mainland, according to the Defence Ministry.
Fears persist that China might attempt an invasion under the guise of minor provocations. As a result, the exercises will encompass strengthening defenses around ports and potential Chinese landing sites on an island located 160 kilometers (100 miles) off China's coast.
The drills will subsequently focus on simulated anti-landing exercises, incorporating regular forces from all military branches, supported by 22,000 reservists.
These exercises will occur continuously over a span of 10 days under realistic conditions, considering all possible scenarios—an apparent effort to counter criticism that previous drills have been more show than substance.
The Defence Ministry appealed to the public to remain patient if faced with disruptions to flights or traffic and advised against believing misinformation regarding the exercises.
China reacted to the announcement with typical sharpness. "The Han Guang exercise is merely a bluff and self-delusion by the DPP authorities, attempting to pull the Taiwanese populace onto the Taiwan independence cart for the selfish gains of one party," Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Col. Jiang Bing stated during a news conference on Tuesday. DPP refers to Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which supports independence.
"Regardless of their performance or the weapons they use, they cannot counteract the PLA's anti-independence force or the historical trend towards the motherland's inevitable reunification," Jiang further remarked.
Additionally, China seems to have taken measures to disrupt the drill preparations. The Taiwanese Defence Ministry reported that PLA planes and ships conducted "harassment operations" on Tuesday around Taiwan’s maritime and aerial zones under the guise of a joint combat readiness patrol.
Taiwan’s armed forces employed joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems to closely monitor the situation and dispatched appropriate mission aircraft, vessels, and shore-based missile systems, the Defence Ministry stated on Tuesday. (AP)
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