Taiwan holds air, sea drills as China keeps up pressure

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te walks past soldiers at a naval base following a Chinese military drills earlier in the week in Taoyuan on October 18, 2024. Agence France-Presse

TAIPEI — Taiwan’s military deployed aircraft, ships and air defense missile systems in a drill on Thursday, as China maintains pressure on Taipei to accept Beijing’s claims of sovereignty over the island.

China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since 1949, but Beijing considers it part of its territory and has refused to renounce the use of force to bring the island under its control.

The early morning exercise was aimed at testing “the response and engagement procedures of air defense units”, Taiwan’s Air Force Command said in a statement.

READ: Taiwan dispatches ‘appropriate forces’ in response to China’s military drills

“Various types of aircraft, ships, and air defense missile systems were deployed from 5:00 am to 7:00 am,” the statement said, without providing details.

The last time the Air Force Command held such drills was in June, a month after Taiwan President Lai Ching-te took office.

Taiwan lives under the constant threat of a Chinese invasion and has ramped up defence spending in recent years to strengthen its military capabilities.

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The island has a home-grown defense industry but also relies heavily on arms sales from Washington, which is Taiwan’s most important partner and biggest provider of weapons and ammunition.

China regularly deploys fighter jets and warships around Taiwan and engages in what Taipei describes as “grey zone” harassment — a tactic that falls short of an act of war.