Taiwan tests defenses in major morning drills amid looming threat of Chinese invasion

Taiwan conducted air defense tests on Tuesday using surface-to-air missiles and its air, land, and naval forces to ramp up training as Chinese forces continue “intrusions” into the self-ruled Island.

Taiwan’s Air Force Command said it conducted an early morning training exercise between 5am and 7am local time using anti-aircraft artillery systems and US-made Patriot missiles in a bid to test its “overall air defense combat plan exercises”.

“The aim was to verify the command and control of joint air defense operations among the three branches of the military.

“In the face of Chinese aircraft and ships frequently encroaching into Taiwan’s surrounding sea and air space, the air force will continue to increase its training intensity to deal with potential threats,” Taiwan’s Air Force said.

The surface-to-air missile tests were conducted in conjunction with its air, land and naval forces, using domestically made Sky Bow and Patriot missiles.

Taiwan maintains its state of military preparedness as Beijing asserts its claim on the island of 23 million people and its outlying islands as Chinese territory. Beijing has increased its near-daily presence around the island in the last four years, employing what Taiwan describes as “gray zone” tactics to exert pressure, yet avoiding direct conflict that could involve the US.

Speaking from Taiwan’s east coast in Suao, home to a major navy base, defense ministry spokesperson Sun Li-fang avoided directly linking the drills with current tensions with China and called it routine annual drills.

“How to increase our overall military capabilities is very important,” he told reporters.

Taiwan’s government rejects China’s territorial claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.

The tests come as Taiwan are set to kick off mega drills, spanning over 20 days from 2 to 20 April. The series of live-fire military exercises will take place around its offshore islets, including Kinmen, an island just a few kilometers from Chinese territory that has become an area of ​​major flashpoint between the two in recent months.

On Tuesday, a total of 13 Chinese aircraft and seven navy vessels were observed around Taiwan within the 24-hour period leading up to 6am (2200 GMT Monday), Taiwan’s defense ministry said.

During the previous week, Taiwan identified 36 Chinese military aircraft encircling the island within a 24-hour timeframe, marking the highest single-day count recorded this year.