Taipei:Defense Minister Wellington Koo announced that Taiwan is closely monitoring China's military exercises, which are set to take place off the coast of China rather than near Taiwan.
According to Focus Taiwan, the Ministry of National Defense is preparing for various scenarios following China's Maritime Safety Administration's issuance of no-sail notices for five marine areas. These areas, where the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is expected to conduct live-fire drills, include the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, and Bohai Sea.
Koo stated that Taiwan's military has assessed the exercises will occur near China's coastline and involve only PLA artillery units. However, Taiwan remains vigilant in observing the situation.
The Chinese government has not confirmed if the exercises are a response to President Lai Ching-te's recent National Day address, though it suggested the drills serve as a deterrent against Taiwan's potential moves towards independence. On social media, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Chen Xi criticized Lai's Democratic Progressive Party for pursuing a "Taiwan independence" agenda, stating that the PLA's exercises aim to deter such actions and protect Taiwanese public safety.
Taiwan's Maritime and Port Bureau clarified that three of the designated PLA exercise areas in the Bohai and Yellow seas are outside Taiwan's waters. The other two areas, located in the East and South China seas, are within China's coastal waters, 159 and 588 nautical miles from Taiwan, respectively. The bureau concluded that the PLA's six-day exercises are unlikely to impact vessels operating near Taiwan.
