Sosok.ID – Television Taiwan broadcast a video on Friday of military drills simulating the island being attacked.
The film, produced by the defense ministry, shows troops firing anti-aircraft, anti-tank and anti-ship missiles to defend the island from a mock invasion from across the Strait. Taiwan, the waterway that separates it from the mainland China.
In a statement accompanying the film which was released on Facebook and released to the media on Thursday.
The ministry said Beijing should not underestimate the island’s determination to defend itself.
“The most selfish countries can mindlessly provoke war and the most ignorant governments can get caught in the flames of war,” he said.
He added that by repeated provocations and intimidation by the People’s Liberation Army, China’s military efforts would not succeed.
“It will only have the effect of sparking anger and antipathy from the Taiwanese people, and undermining peace and stability throughout the Taiwan Strait,” the ministry said.
The footage was released after a number of military propaganda films were shown by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV amid worsening tensions between Beijing and Taipei.
SCMP
–
The video was released amid heightened tensions between Taipei and Beijing.
On August 14, a CCTV-7 program revealed new details of the Tianlei 500 People’s Liberation Army, a 500kg (1,100 lb) guided munition dispenser and air-to-surface missiles.
On Tuesday, CCTV broadcast reports of the PLA conducting live fire drills in the northern and southern ends of Taiwan, and a day later released video footage.
Direct firing exercises conducted by PLA were held in the East China Sea area.
While not giving an exact time or date for the exercises, the PLA’s Eastern Theater Command said on Aug. 13 that it had recently conducted combat drills in the northern and southern ends of the Taiwan Strait.
Also Read: Taiwan faces critical problems, China begins to aggressively provoke Taipei
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen said on Wednesday the island was well aware of PLA activity.
“We have full understanding and closely monitoring the overall military situation and the public can be confident that our military is capable of safeguarding our national security,” he said.
A recent poll by the Chinese Public Opinion Research Association in Taipei showed 80 percent of people did not believe the PLA would launch an attack on the island.
Su Tzu-yun, a senior analyst at National Defense and Security Research, a government-funded think tank in Taipei, said that despite the CCTV reports, many PLA drills are routine events held annually and are not politically motivated.
SCMP
–
The footage shows troops firing anti-aircraft, anti-tank and anti-ship missiles.
“While we have to take a cautious approach to the Chinese threat, we don’t need to overreact,” he said.
“They must be viewed as propaganda and psychological warfare designed to confuse the public in Taiwan.”
But Li Chia-wei, a research fellow at National Policy Foundation, a think tank affiliated with Taiwan’s main opposition Kuomintang party, people say they should not turn a blind eye to a possible attack by the PLA.
“Public Taiwan numb by a sword attack by Beijing, “he said, referring to the latest poll.
“[Tapi latihan terbaru PLA] very different from repeated government warnings and what the major international media worries about. “*)
– .
