Taiwan to simulate Chinese invasion in major drill
TAIPEI : Taiwan will simulate a Chinese blockade and invasion of the democratic island in its annual military and civil defence drills next week, as president Lai Ching-te warned on Tuesday the island was already facing China's 'war without gun smoke'.
The annual Han Kuang exercises starting on July 9 will last for 10 days and mobilise more than 22,000 reservists, both unprecedented in length and scale. Taiwan is facing ramped-up military pressure from China, which considers the separately governed island as its own despite Taiwan's strong rejection.
Addressing soldiers in a video ahead of Han Kuang, Lai said in recent years Taiwan has been constantly preparing for a 'war without gun smoke', such as Chinese infiltration and disinformation attacks.
'However, there is no need to worry because the democratic, free, and prosperous Taiwan of today is the result of the Taiwanese people's courage, conviction, and action in fighting their way through various challenges, and the unity and resilience of the Taiwanese people has been demonstrated.'
Tung Chih-hsing, head of the defence ministry's joint combat planning department, said drill scenarios included 'joint fire attack and the sea ferry of the landing group by the Communist Army', and Taiwan's armed forces will practice building up a 'chain of strikes' with naval and air precision attacks.
'We are demonstrating our determination and ability to defend ourselves with practical actions,' Tung told a press briefing in Taipei, adding the armed forces will upgrade its combat readiness level if China launches 'targeted drills' in response.
Civil defence drills will be held alongside Han Kuang, including issuing missile alerts and evacuation drills that will temporarily shut businesses and suspend traffic in major cities including the capital Taipei.
China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Lai has since June given three speeches in what will be a series of 10 on 'uniting the country' ahead of a July 26 recall vote for around one quarter of parliament's lawmakers – all from the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party.
Beijing had angrily rebuked some of Lai's recent remarks as the two capitals clashed over their competing interpretations of history in an escalating war of words over what Beijing views as provocations from Taiwan's government.
Civil groups involved in the recall campaign have framed the election as a no-confidence vote against what they see as Beijing-friendly lawmakers who are working to undermine Taiwan's democracy, a position strongly rejected by the KMT.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
5 hours ago
- Malay Mail
EU presses China to stop ‘harming European security'
BRUSSELS, July 2 — EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas today urged Beijing to stop undermining Europe's security, as China's top diplomat held talks in Brussels ahead of a leaders' summit later this month. 'China is not our adversary, but on security our relationship is under increasing strain,' Kallas said ahead of meeting China's Wang Yi. 'Chinese companies are Moscow's lifeline to sustain its war against Ukraine. Beijing carries out cyberattacks, interferes with our democracies, and trades unfairly. These actions harm European security and jobs.' Wang's visit to Brussels — following which he will head to Berlin and Paris — comes some three weeks ahead of a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the EU's top officials in Beijing. As US President Donald Trump has rocked the major trading powers by unleashing a tariff war, the EU has opened the door to improving ties with China. But instead of improvements, a trade spat has only deepened between Brussels and Beijing over alleged unfair practices by China. And the 27-nation bloc is still railing against the flow of vital tech to Russia's military via China. 'Enabling war in Europe while seeking closer ties with Europe is a contradiction Beijing must address,' Kallas said. 'In a volatile world, Beijing should use its growing strength to uphold international law.' In an effort to pressure Beijing, the EU has slapped bans on trading with a raft of Chinese firms accused of aiding Moscow's war effort. But EU officials admit they have failed to shift Beijing from what it sees as its vital strategic partnership with Moscow. — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Peka demands answers from mayor on new Bukit Gasing bungalows
Peka president Rajesh Nagarajan said the Petaling Jaya mayor has not provided any document to prove a controversial bungalow project in Bukit Gasing meets MBPJ's criteria. PETALING JAYA : Environmental group Peka has demanded Petaling Jaya mayor Zahri Samingon prove that the construction of several bungalows at Bukit Gasing here meets the city council's conditions. In a statement, Peka president Rajesh Nagarajan said Zahri's assertion that the project complies with Petaling Jaya City Council's (MBPJ) criteria is unsubstantiated, as no supporting documents or reports were provided. 'There is no transparency at all from the authorities even though this is a matter that affects the lives of the residents of Bukit Gasing,' said Rajesh. 'If the project is truly compliant with the rules, we demand that MBPJ show us the approvals. Failing this, the only logical conclusion is that the approvals were not in order.' Peka recently called for a halt to the development of several bungalows at Bukit Gasing as they are being constructed on steep slopes. The group threatened to take legal action against MBPJ if it did not halt the development, which it claimed involved the extensive felling of trees on steep slopes. Peka claimed several landslides had already been reported in the area and that continued clearing could endanger lives. In response, Zahri today said the bungalows were being developed on private land and the project meets MBPJ's conditions, adding that it did not encroach on Bukit Gasing's forest reserve area. In a report in The Star, Zahri said the construction is located on land that can be developed, going on to note that there is a clear delineation of the border with the forest reserve. Rajesh today said Zahri's remarks on the delineation were irrelevant as Peka never said the development was encroaching into the forest reserve. 'Our concern is with bungalow development on steep slopes, which poses landslide risks to the area,' he said. 'The mayor is steadfastly avoiding addressing the issue at hand and is instead deflecting our concerns by responding to a point that was never raised and is not a point of contention.'
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
MACC probes tycoon allegedly linked to Albert Tei
On Monday, businessman Albert Tei claimed trial to two charges of giving a total of RM350,000 in bribes related to mineral prospecting licence applications in Sabah to two assemblymen. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating a tycoon allegedly linked to businessman Albert Tei, who is standing trial on charges of corruption. An MACC source said this followed claims that the tycoon, who manages a Singaporean company, had 'funded a corruption scandal' involving Tei and several Sabah Umno leaders. 'MACC has launched an investigation to confirm this information,' the source said. MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed the probe and said several witnesses would be summoned soon to assist in the investigation. On Monday, Tei claimed trial to two charges of giving a total of RM350,000 in bribes related to mineral prospecting licence applications in Sabah to two assemblymen. He is accused of giving RM150,000 and RM200,000 in bribes to assistant state industrial development and entrepreneurship minister Andi Suryady Bandy of Sabah Umno and Sindumin assemblyman Dr Yusof Yacob, respectively. The assemblymen also claimed trial to accepting the bribes. The Sabah mining scandal surfaced last year following the leak of several videos purportedly showing discussions involving bribery and misconduct related to mineral exploration projects in the state.
