Taiwan begins annual military drills in face of Chinese threats
The large-scale exercises started on Wednesday and are scheduled to last 10 days, which is five days longer than last year.
More than 20,000 reservists are expected to be mobilized. On the first day, training was provided for reservists to take part in combat.
The drills will include live-fire training with High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, purchased from the United States.
Taiwan also plans to verify its response to so-called "gray zone" intrusions from China. The term refers to operations to pressure Taiwan that stop short of an armed attack.
In parallel with the military exercises, large-scale drills will take place in three cities, including Taipei, based on a scenario of infrastructure coming under attack.
Air raid drills will also be conducted to evacuate people, including those on the streets, in the event of a Chinese missile strike.
Many citizens are set to participate in these drills.
This comes as China has been stepping up military pressure around Taiwan. The administration of President Lai Ching-te appears to be seeking to strengthen Taiwan's defense capabilities through cooperation between the military and civilian sector.
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