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The CM-11 Brave Tiger tank fires during the Han Kuang military exercise, which simulates the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) attack on the island, in Pingtung, Taiwan, May 30, 2019. Photo/REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
The Chinese drills have been described as countering “separatist forces”.
The exercises were announced on Sunday (8/1/2023) by Colonel Shi Yi, spokesman for the Eastern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
He said the exercises would involve sea and air maneuvers around Taiwan, focusing on ground attack and amphibious assault actions.
“The exercises are designed to test the joint combat capability of the troops and resolutely counter the provocative actions of external forces and Taiwan independence separatists,” the military statement read.
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Taiwan is the island that was the last bastion of nationalist forces during the Chinese civil war of the 1940s. The island is autonomous, but is recognized as part of China by most countries.
The island’s military said it had detected four PLA vessels on Monday (9/1/2023), along with a number of military aircraft in the Taiwan Strait.
He said Taiwan’s naval, air and land assets are monitoring the situation and standing ready to respond.
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